OVC_ Health Referral Linkage Coordinator 126 views1 application

MSD is a non-profit, civic society organization founded in 1999 to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since then, MSD works to strengthen the socio-economic development of the wider community, and the nation at large. Working with partners and stakeholders, MSD advance the voice of citizens and community structures in service delivery, identifying priority needs, provide support and services to target groups with education, skills and promote opportunity to get along with assets. Aligned to its vision, mission and strategic objectives, MSD has been working in different development, emergency and humanitarian endeavours including HIV Prevention, care and support, Orphan and vulnerable children (OCV) care and support, Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH),Family Planning (FP), Gender Based Violence (GBV), migration, child protection and environmental protection. Through these technical area and services, it reached different hard to reach target groups including early married girls, GBV survivor, OVCs, refugees, PLHA, commercial sex workers and their clients, waitresses, long truck drivers, CSOs, CBOs and the community. At community level, the organization works with community members and community based social service providing institutions, schools, health facilities, government line offices, marginalized groups and professional associations.

MSD is a child safe organization and all successful applicants will be required to sign the Safeguarding Code of Conduct. The safety and wellbeing of children and at-risk adults are priorities of MSD. The organization provides a safe environment in all its programs and activities. It has strong recruitment procedures to make sure the safest and most suitable people work with the children in its programmes.

Job Summary: 

OVC_Health Linkage Referral Coordinator will act as a link between the HFs they are assigned to and their community organization. They will support HIV testing activities in the community to identify new HIV cases and ensure that C&ALHIV access the services they need so they can adhere and achieve VL suppression. They will work in close collaboration with HIV service providers in HFs (PMTCT, ART, VCT, and Case Manager).

Specific Functions and Responsibilities

1. Case Finding/HIV Testing:

• Monitor test kit availability during each visit to each HF and SDP with the CEF and notify the HIV service specialist when the number of test kits is low or there is a stock out in a particular HF.
• Coordinate with the ART focal person and the Case Manager in the HF the line listing of children and siblings of HIV index cases for testing purposes.
• Coordinate HIV testing activities for OVCs/CGs with VCT staff and the Family Health Team (Health Extension Workers) in HFs, as well as with CEF at the community HIV testing settings.
• Obtain the counter-referral forms for OVCs/CGs tested for HIV from the VCT focal point at least on a weekly basis and documented at LIP level.
• Follow-up on OVCs/CGs who test HIV+ to ensure they are linked to ART (immediately or within 48 hrs/2 days).
• Monitor SSWs’ documentation of HIV risk screening and HTS referrals in the HIV Case Finding Register and provide weekly performance feedback to them.
• Monitor HIVSTAT and VL logbook at the SDP level and give on-the-spot feedback for assigned SSWs.

b) Adherence and VL Testing:

• Keep a monthly calendar of appointments in the HF for OVC clients (ART consultation, medication pick up, and VL testing), and share the calendar with SSWs/CWs so they can remind caregivers about these appointments.
• Follow-up with HIV service providers within the HF provider to confirm that OVC clients kept their appointment. Communicate any missed appointments to the SSWs and CWs immediately (within a week) for quick follow-up.
• Coordinate with ART focal points the line listing of OVC clients for viral load testing.
• Monitor VL test results for OVC clients. Communicate high VL test results to the SSWs/CWs for more intensive adherence counseling.
• Ensure that SSWs/CWs provide appropriate ART adherence counseling to C&ALHIV at risk of defaulting treatment.
• Ensure conduct barrier analysis for CALHIV with HVL (High viral load) and identified gaps to provide need-based service.
• Ensure appropriate service maps and service directories will be developed all service-proving sites.
• Establish and Strengthen COTZ in the community setting.
• Monitor the documentation of adherence support activities in the Community Adherence Register and provide weekly performance feedback to SSWs.
• Line list C&ALHIV IIT and coordinate tracing activities with the Youth Peer Mentors.
• Participate in monthly case conferencing meetings in the HF to discuss cases of children and adolescents facing challenges with adherence and VL suppression.
• In collaboration with HF staff (PMTCT, VCT, ART, Case Manager), identify existing and newly diagnosed children and adolescents, HIV-exposed infants (babies born to HIV+ mothers), not enrolled in OVC and:
• Offer them to the OVC program for enrollment. The services provided by OVC will contribute to ensuring adherence and VL suppression among children and adolescents.
• Link C&ALHIV whose caregiver refuses enrollment in OVC to facility-based case management services

c) Supervision Responsibilities:

• OVC_ Health Linkage Referral Coordinator will supervise and coach SSWs and CWs.

d) Reporting Responsibilities:

• Prepare a daily (and weekly verified) report on the number of OVC clients tested and linked to ART using the “Positive trucking and linkage registered” form and Documented at the LIP level
• Report the number of CALHIV who received VL testing and VL test results to the OVC service specialist
• Ensure the CALHIV/positive caregivers’ data is recorded into the CommCare case management platform in near real-time.

e) Other Responsibilities:

• Attend weekly coordination meetings and/or MDT at the health facility level.
• Attend weekly referral coordination meetings at the woreda level.
• Coordinate and participate in weekly OVC performance review meetings.

Salary: Negotiable subject to organizational salary scale and project budget

No. Required: 1

Gender: Both male and female are invited, and women are highly encouraged to apply.

Term of Employment: One year contract, with possibility of renewal depending on merit and job continuity