District HIV Program mentor/Treatment retention/Viral Load/Peds & Adolescents – SHAC SHWARI HEALTH ASSOCIATION Cameroon, Yaoundé or Bertoua

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Shwari Health Cameroon is a locally registered organization with a vision to ensure the provision of quality, effective and innovative evidence-based solutions to address health systems challenges within the health sector in Cameroon and beyond with a special focus to children and adolescents. To achieve this, Shwari Health Cameroon uses proven community strategies to identify HIV infected children and adolescents, refer them to health facilities for initiation on treatment, support and accompany them through treatment to ensure they remain in care and achieve viral suppression. Our mission is to be one of the most sought-after implementations science associations in Cameroon that uses evidence-based strategies to effectively cover the ‘Know-Do’ gaps in the provision of health services. We aim to achieve this through the application of modern evidence generation and

synthesis methods to understand operational contexts so as to motto strategies that could make the implementation efforts more effective and efficient. SHWARI Health Association, in partnership with Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Practice and Impact (CGHPI), the Government of the Republic of Cameroon’s Regional Technical Groups (RTGs), will be implementing a project titled SAFECARE-Cameroon, which is a 5-year CDC/PEPFAR-Funded project. SAFECARE-Cameroon’s goal is to develop, implement, and sustain comprehensive facility and community-based HIV services for children, adolescents, and adults in Cameroon in PEPFAR supported regions of the country and support the country to quickly track its progress to achieve HIV epidemic control . As a result, SHWARI Health Association Cameroon (SHAC) is recruiting for the following program implementation positions. All prospective candidates must be fluent in French and working knowledge of English. These positions will be based in Yaoundé or Bertoua.

SHAC Office Positions

Position:    District HIV Program mentor/Treatment retention/ Viral Load/ Peds & Adolescents, SAFECARE Project -Cameroon
Reports to: Regional Program Manager
Location of work: Yaoundé and Bertoua, Cameroon
Number of positions: 03
Position Overview: The position holder will enhance capacity of nursing care providers and other professionals working at facility level to improve care processes and systems for effective delivery of comprehensive HIV services including strengthening care continuity systems essential for patient retention in care. This position will also support comprehensive delivery of PMTCT HIV services within supported health facilities, ensure longitudinal care for mother-baby pairs, universal access to EID services for all HIV exposed infants, integration of HIV testing and care within ANC services including providing technical support to ensure successful implementation of PMTCT full HAART in all facilities in the assigned region of the country. Lead will support all facilities within the region to improve data to care interventions to improve HIV population health outcomes. He/She will lead initiatives to ensure pediatric and adolescents’ systems from HIV diagnosis, treatment initiation and retention in care are effective, efficient and result in the optimal patient health outcomes. He/She will support development of care management models that enhance delivery of HIV and related services and ensure long term retention in care of children and adolescents including optimal care outcomes.

Essential Functions
• Mentor nursing staff at designated sites in clinical care of PLHIV across the care continuum,
• Support institutionalization of clinical care systems to improve efficiency in HIV services provision at designated sites• Participate in training of nurses and other health professionals
• Support sites to develop improvement plans as part of remediation action
• Provide site staff with the latest information on the nursing care of HIV patients, including implementation of national guidelines.
• Support provision of high quality PMTCT services within health facilities:
• Directly mentor health care workers at facility and regional level
• Assist MOH to develop innovative approaches to retain Mother-Baby pairs in care

• Assist the facility with interfacing with community-based care
• Provide the MOH to review and disseminate relevant educational materials, teaching
• aids and clinical reference materials for the delivery of high impact interventions to improve Maternal and Infant HIV Care
• Participate in monthly dashboard reviews of project clinical outcomes and utilize project data to prioritize interventions related to Maternal-Child HIV care
• Provide technical guidance and support for optimizing case identification in children and adolescents.
• Support linkage and retention on treatment for all positive children and adolescents.
• Work closely with the clinical care, and community care teams to guide and support all aspects of care management functions for children and adolescents from HIV testing, linkages to care, treatment preparedness, long term engagement in care, care coordination including navigation to ensure provision of high quality and cost-effective services across the health systems and community.

• Consistent with overall program goals, the position holder will ensure that front HIV service providers and staff are trained, mentored and coached to enhance the quality and patient experience of care while eliminating unnecessary inconveniences to the patients as they navigate between community and facility health care systems.
• Participate in program integrated data review sessions and support development of care improvement plans informed by evidence.
• Build capacity for case managers/care navigation teams including collaborating community-based organizations.
• Develop and support implementation of optimal care coordination through effective communication and collaboration with internal and external customers to achieve quality patient outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience
• BSc in Nursing, preferably with additional training in public health  
• Current clinical HIV medicine practice as a nurse for not less than 5 years

• Ability to interface with multiple executives of health care workers in a professional manner.
• Proficiency with basic computer skills
• Registration with the Cameroon Nursing Council
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft packages.
• Must be fluent in French and working knowledge of English
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Work Environment
SHWARI Health Association Cameroon (SHAC) /Context / Required competencies
Core values
​​• Commitment: Actively contributes to achieving organizational goals
• Diversity: Respects others and values ​​their diverse perspectives and contributions
• Integrity: Acts in a manner consistent with the Organization’s core values and organizational principles
• Accountability: Takes responsibility for own action and delegated work
Core competencies
• Communication: Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with colleagues and with stakeholders of the Organization
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others on common goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working environment
• Planning: Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner
• Analysis and decision-making: Analyzes available information, draws well-founded conclusions and takes appropriate decisions
• Initiative-taking: Proposes and initiates new ideas , activities and projects
• Flexibility: Responds positively and effectively to changing circumstances
Managerial competencies (for positions with managerial responsibilities)
• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, builds trust and creates an enabling environment
• Strategic thinking: Identifies goals that advance the organizational agenda and develops plans for achieving them
• Managing performance: Helps to maximize team performance by providing active feedback and skill development opportunities

Instructions for Submitting Applications:
1. All applications should be submitted electronically at: https://forms.gle/zFso5waZkTf716JG6
2. Please mention in the subject line of the email the position for which you are applying.
3. Applications should include 3 references that are familiar with applicant’s work experience preferably in the last 3-5 years. References should include contact information including daytime phone and email address.
4. All applications should include a cover letter that details one’s suitability for the job highlighting key functional areas, expected qualifications and experiences.
5. Candidates should attach a 3-page CV/Resume that highlights one’s key achievements in areas relevant to the job

6. Job related stated qualifications and experience are the basic minimum requirements that each applicant must meet to be considered for interviewing.
7. All applicants should include daytime phone contact information.
8. Deadline for application is September 10th, 2024, 5 PM Cameroon Time.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

SHWARI Health Association Cameroon (SHAC) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of gender, ethnicity, or any other status variable.