HTS and Prevention Specialist at Georgetown Global Health Nigeria (GGHN)

The Georgetown Global Health Nigeria (GGHN) is the operational arm and an affiliate of Georgetown University Centre for Global Health Practice and Impact (CGHPI) in Nigeria. GGHN is a Non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization in Nigeria that promotes best practices in health care delivery and research using local and internationally adapted models to strengthen health systems.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: HTS and Prevention Specialist

Location: Kano
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Overview

• This dynamic role positions you as a key player in expanding access to quality HIV testing services and driving successful linkage to care.
• You will lead and support implementation teams across your assigned state and cluster, ensuring program activities align with national and PEPFAR guidelines.
• The role is ideal for a highly motivated individual with a passion for public health and a commitment to increasing access to HIV testing and prevention services.
• It requires data review and analysis with high expectations for timeliness and Accuracy

Here’s What This Role Entails
Trategic Oversight and Technical Expertise:

• Provide guidance and technical assistance to facility and community partners on implementing high-yield case finding strategies like optimized PITC, index testing, and social network testing.
• Lead and coordinate evidence-based HTS surge activities at the community and facilities, ensuring HIV testing is provided to priority populations according to the national HIV testing protocols and guidelines.
• Contribute to the development and review of annual work plans and budgets, and offer technical guidance to implementation teams on all aspects of case finding programming.

Quality Assurance and Improvement:

• Monitor services delivered and ensure adherence to national standards for HTS services. You will also conduct regular site visits and assessments to identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with state laboratory focal persons to strengthen proficiency testing and other diagnostic quality assurance.

Capacity Building:

• Empower implementation teams through capacity building workshops and technical assistance to achieve high-yield testing strategies with effective referrals and linkages to care.
• Coordinate training for providers on HTS, Index Testing/Partner Notification Services (PNS), HIV Self-testing (HIVST), Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), adherence counseling, and behavioral change.

Collaboration and Integration:

• Work closely with stakeholders including state and LGA health officials, community partners, and program teams to foster collaboration and facilitate integration of effective case finding interventions into existing service delivery platforms in facility and community settings.
• Establish and strengthen referral linkages between community and facility-based HTS, GBV, and PrEP services.
• Coordinate mapping of community and facility services including Spoke PMTCT sites, and contribute to development of referral directories.

Data-driven Decision Making:

• Analyze program data and reports to track progress towards achieving program objectives and identify areas for improvement.
• Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of case finding programs, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results that contribute to achieving the national target of the 98:98:98 cascade.
• Participate in the development of M&E prevention tools relating to HIV testing at facilities and communities.
• Ensure that monthly program activity reports are produced and submitted timely for data triangulation with the M&E unit on the project.

Supportive Supervision and Mentorship:

• Conduct regular site visits to assess service quality, monitor availability of commodities, and provide ongoing support and guidance to HTS Officers, facility HTS focal persons, and Counselor Testers at facility and community settings.

Reporting and Communication:

• Prepare reports, data analyses, and presentations for various stakeholders, including state and national forums.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the team lead.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Public Health, Health Sciences or related Health, Medical or Social Sciences; Master’s in Public health preferred
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in design and implementation of HIV testing services for community and health facilities under PEPFAR/USAID supported programs
• Specialized knowledge: Certificate in HTS algorithm, PITC, VTC, etc.; Knowledgeable in facility and community-based HTS including index testing, HIV self-testing, and recency testing including driving SURGE level access to HTS services
• Skills: Proficient in excel, word processing. Strong written and oral communications skills, ability to interpret epidemiological and public health data
• Interpersonal/Individual Competencies: the ability to build and maintain relations with multiple stakeholders, strong work ethic, decisiveness, and personal integrity.

Mode of evaluation:

• Monthly activity program report
• Site activity report
• Training report
• Concept paper for innovation on prevention services
• Performance objectives

Application Closing Date
4th July, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and supporting documentation demonstrating similar work experience to: [email protected] using "HTS and Prevention Specialist _Kano State" as the subject of the mail.