Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a Non-Governmental Organisation with head office in Boston USA, has been in existence for over 40 years implementing projects and programs all over the World.  In Nigeria, MSH implements Prevention Organizational Systems AIDS Care and Treatment Project. The project receives her funding from USAID with an overarching goal of supporting the Government of Nigeria provide quality focused comprehensive HIV/AIDS services. The project currently supports HTC services, ART services, TB intervention; VC and community based intervention; PMTCT intervention integrated with reproductive maternal neonatal and child health services in a mix of tertiary, secondary and primary health care facilities

MSH has now established 41 comprehensive care and treatment centres in five states across Nigeria providing holistic care to PLHIV at various levels. For a smooth transition of support to host government including repositioning supported health facilities to align with PEPFAR-USAID guidance, MSH seeks to engage a dynamic ART/PMTCT-experienced Clinical Officers to support this process as a short term Technical Assistance

POSITION : HIV Clinical Services Consultant

Slot: 4

Objectives

The key objective for the short-term technical assistance is to support the delivery of sustainable HIV/AID care, and treatment services in supported hospital facilities. This include but not limited to strengthening leadership and management capacity of the hospital management committee (HMC)/Quality improvement team (QIT) with a focus on the facility leadership taking on more active role in the delivery of  services to PLHIV.

Specific Responsibilities

Support the Hospital management committee (HMC) to develop a monthly meeting  schedule for hospital program review
Support the use of SIMS tools for the conduct of unit specific supportive supervision
In collaboration with hospital management committee conduct periodic  orientation on the use of  SIMS tool
Support capacity building of facility staff  through  CMEs to enhance knowledge based of service provision  with emphasis on Institutionalizing QIT and conduct of monthly meetings in the facility 
Develop capacity of champions (retention, tracking and quality improvement) in the facility targeting the CMD or his designate to sustain these service delivery initiative
Identify and build capacity of QI lead to mentor on continuous process improvement (client flow, treatment initiations, adherence counselling, TB/HIV collaboration and treatment failure review etcetera) to enhance service delivery in the facility
Empower ART focal and M&E focal person to constantly review data with facility staff during QIT meeting including the use of data for decision making
Empower and transfer reporting and sharing of weekly, monthly and quarterly program activities  to the ART focal person
Sustain the use of site monitoring through improvement tools (SIMS)  in supported facility including mentoring facility staff on its use for periodic self-assessment
Support the HTC hospital designate to ensure HTC transition activities are in line with PEPFAR-MSH plans of keeping enrolment into care and treatment at maintenance level. Where applicable
Promote targeted testing at the GOPD or Designate facility Heart to Heart centre
Promote the use of testing eligibility checklist for  assessing patients eligibility for testing
Support transitioning of established and functional provider initiated testing and counselling points to hospital management (Staff)
Provide TA for the documentation of testing and counselling of patients in the facility from non MSH supported testing points (PITC points  excluding ANC, TB, Paediatric ward, GOPD or facility H to H centre)
Support the documentation of positive clients PITC points transitioned to the hospital facility
Ensure regular supply of test kits and testing of patients at the ANC, TB units and paediatric ward
Work closely with ART focal persons to improve facility  treatment retention with emphasis on treatment cohort  to be reported at end of MSH current physical year
Provide TA for the tracking of patients who commenced treatment among this cohort and ensure they are returned to care
Provide TA for setting up of a functional adherence and PHDP unit in the facility
Provide TA for refining of clinic flow to ensure patients receive adherence counselling at each hospital encounter before collection of prescribed medication at the pharmacy unit
Provide TA for the use of treatment calendar at the adherence counselling and records unit for the purpose of tracking of treatment cohort specified above
Monitor the implementation of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) in the facility
Build capacity of ART focal person to lead periodic chart reviews in collaboration with the QIT members for all enrolled patients with a view of assessing quality of care- treatment eligibility evaluation, treatment failure assessment, treatment adherence for patients, patients staging etcetera
Build capacity of ART focal person to support TB screen of HIV positive patients (new and old clients) in congregate settings (PICT points, Adherence counselling rooms and triage units, consulting rooms, PMTCT setting) and documented in the appropriate tools
Build capacity of PMTCT focal person to continue to support decentralization of ART services to PMTCT service delivery  points  (ensuring continuous supply of ARVs to ANC service points)
Build capacity of thematic focal leads to Organize periodic CME to support capacity building of  HCWs on HIV/AIDs care and support PMTCT and Collaborative TB/HIV activities

Deliverables
Bi- weekly update report to the STL, Clinical Care Specialist on assigned tasks using outlined format below:

Qualitative Reporting:

QI meeting hosting (funding) transited to the facility leadership  within the next one month
Establish functional adherence unit in supported facility
Refined clinic flow to optimize clinic adherence intervention in supported facilties within the next one month
Transition of support group activity to the facility leadership through engagement of NEPWAN
Compile bi-weekly narrative report in line with conducted activities as specified in the TOR including the Quality improvement team meetings  with supportive data
Compile report  monthly  on achievements  to supervising technical staff
Provide a comprehensive report at the end of the period reflecting task that were assigned and carried out including findings and recommendations.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

The clinical officer will be a highly skilled clinician with at least 2 years of clinical work experience in a busy ART treatment centre.
S/he will have thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in Nigeria including current Knowledge in the field of HIV programming.
Registered with the relevant professional bodies (Nigeria Medical and Dental Council).