Clinical Optimizer at Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi)

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) is a non-profit organization that promotes socio-economic development by supporting global health and economic initiatives in Nigeria. It was established as indigenous organizational, registered in 2009 with its headquarter in Abuja, and presence in the four geopolitical regions of Nigeria.  It aims to provide technical assistance to the government and people of Nigeria in the implementation of public health and development programs.

The Global Fund Grant Cycle (GC7) is to ensure a coordinated and intensive effort to scale up the prevention, identification, and treatment of HIV in both general and key populations in Anambra state. The focus will be on facility and community-based approaches to reach epidemic control, and in addition, ensure improvement in the coverage of pregnant women on ART as well as target KP and AGYW programs.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Clinical Optimizer

Location: Taraba
Contract Type: Adhoc Services
Duration: 9 months with possibility of extension (based on availability of funds)
No of Adhoc: 1
Commencement Date: 2nd January 2024
Supervisor: Direct: Direct: Site Backstop (Technical officers at the state level)/Site Enhancement Officer
Job Category: Adhoc

Background

• The Accelerating the Control of HIV Epidemic in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe & Taraba States (ACE-1) Project implemented by AHNi, and the consortium partners is a robust, sustainability-focused, high-impact, evidence-based HIV/AIDS intervention funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
• It aims at fast-tracking the attainment of UNAIDS 95:95:95 targets and achieving epidemic control in the focus states. Effective October 1, 2024, AHNi-ACE-1 took over the HIV implementation for the general population in Taraba State.
• AHNi verified and retained the Adhoc personnel transitioned from RISE for the first 3months to ensure adequate HR availability to continue service provision in all facilities.
• AHNi-ACE-1 in collaboration with the Taraba State Government seeks to engage Adhoc personnel to fill the following roles across the 29 Supported Health Facilities in Taraba.

Overall Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Site Backstop, the Site Clinical Optimizer shall serve as a point of contact for all project-level activities in the health facility.
• S/he will work with the ART Coordinator to support the service providers to deliver optimal user experience for clients receiving care and treatment in the facility.
• S/he will support the ART Coordinator in supervising the adhoc personnel, attending to inquiries/complaints, and facilitating access to services for clients and program support.
• S/he shall be knowledgeable in contextual and cultural issues relevant to communication and relationship management and be versed in the use of information and communication tools. 

Specific Roles and Responsibilities
The services of the Professional Case Manager will include but not limited to the following:

• Would serve as the ART clinician and provide comprehensive clinical services to the newly identified clients as well as review minor complaints from older clients during their clinical visits.
• Diagnose and treat other OIs and be responsible for managing other medical conditions of the clients.
• Coordinate ART, PMTCT, TB/HIV, CxCa, GBV, COVID-19, and other related activities at the facility
• Provide the supervisory function to the SEOs and adhoc staff.
• Coordinate, supervise, and monitor the activities and performance of all ad-hoc staff engaged by the ACE-1 project including case managers, Laboratory Support Personnel, data entry clerks, etc.
• Facilitate the Reimbursement for Incidentals (RFI) promptly and accurately.
• Liaise and coordinate with the project’s local partners operating within the facility’s catchment LGAs or facilities.
• Represent the health facility at the daily situation room meetings, weekly project review meetings, and other relevant meetings, and coordinate the participation of other personnel (especially facility staff) in these meetings.
• Coordinate the submission of daily, weekly, and monthly reports (DHIS and LAMIS files, including RADET files, PrEP reports, TB reports, COVID-19 reports, etc.) to the state.
• Ensure post-clinic reviews are conducted daily and use derived data to drive project implementation.
• Be responsible for galvanizing all facility efforts to meet project expectations in target achievement and quality of care including viral load coverage, client continuity in care, back-to-care efforts, etc. 
• Coordinate, collate and share relevant documents to necessitate prompt settlement of financial claims for the facility, including timesheets, reimbursement for incidentals, etc.
• Lead the coordination of the DTC and ensure that all relevant persons are active participants.
• Maintain an inventory system that adequately forecasts and requests for commodities to prevent stock-out in the health facility. 
• Coordinate the implementation of recommendations from quality improvement teams (e.g., CQI teams, Therapeutic/Switch committees, etc.)
• Provide regular feedback to the ACE-1 site backstop and project head office supervisor on activities within the health facility.
• Adhere to professional ethics and abide by AHNI’s code of conduct and other regulations guiding personnel activities.
• Ensures that all disseminated protocols are strictly adhered to by site staff
• All other responsibilities that may be assigned.

Recruitments

• MBBS with at least One (1) year post-qualification experience in managing comprehensive TB and HIV programs in resource-constrained settings.
• Experience in a similar position is an added advantage.
• S/he must reside within the LGA where s/he is applying to work.
• Candidate MUST NOT be an employee of the State or Nigerian Government (Any violation of this condition will attract outright dismissal from the Adhoc services with sanctions)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Up-to-date knowledge about HIV interventions and programming at facility and community levels.
• Knowledge about the operating environment i.e. Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Taraba States
• Knowledge of the Nigerian clinical setting, including government and non-government settings.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political, and ethical issues surrounding HIV infections.
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants, and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate in the local dialect. 
• Well-developed computer skills.

Application Closing Date
9th December, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward an Application and CV as a single MS Word document to: [email protected] using the Job Title, Location and Facility indicated as the subject of the mail.

Note

• AHNi shall shortlist the candidates that meet the requirements and invite them to be interviewed by AHNi & GoN representatives
• Only applications sent electronically (i.e., by e-mail) with the job title, location and facility indicated as the subject of the mail will be considered and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• AHNi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Disclaimer: AHNi does not charge candidates a fee for a test or interview.