Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) in Collaboration with
Children's Investment Fund Foundation CIFF and Tanzania Health
Promotion Support (THPS).
ADVERTISEMENT FOR VACANCY.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through National Aids Control Program (NACP), in
Collaboration with Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) through Tanzania Health
Promotion Support (THPS) is looking to recruit highly experienced, committed and motivated
Tanzanians to fill in the Paediatric HIV/AIDS Officer, & Pediatric Adherence & Psychosocial
Support & Community Linkages (APSC) Officer positions to be based in Dar Es Salaam with
frequent travel of up to 25% to regional offices. The successful incumbent will be seconded to
MoHSW (NACP) for two years, and will directly report to NACP officials.
POSITION TITLE:
REPORTS TO:
LOCATION:
Paediatric HIV/AIDS Officer
Head of Care & Treatment - (NACP)
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - National AIDS Control
Program (NACP) Dar es Salaam
OVERALL JOB FUNCTION
To strengthen the pediatric unit of within NACP - Care and Treatment team responsible for
strengthening the national pediatric HIV response in relation to Accelerating Children’s
HIV/AIDS Treatment Initiative (ACT) and beyond. To facilitate HIV prevention, care,
treatment and support services for children in the country including improvements in early
infant diagnosis of HIV (EID) among HIV exposed infants, HIV diagnosis in older children and
adolescents, prevention of HIV in adolescents and linkage and retention of children enrolled in
the national care and treatment program. This entails HIV counseling and testing at all entry
points including provider initiated testing and counseling (PITC), EID services, pediatric HIV
care and treatment, enrollment of adolescents living with HIV into adolescent friendly clubs to
enhance retention and minimizing loss to follow up, effective adherence and psychosocial
support, advocacy and community engagement, efficient management of commodities and
ongoing mentorship and supportive supervision. On day to day s/he will work with the Pediatric
Program Officer to ensure that the doubling enrolment of children into treatment is achieved
and will link the NACP to other Implementing Partners in Tanzania to ensure the objectives
ACT initiative are met.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Provides support to MoHSW –in monitoring the implementation for the ACT initiative,
coordinate quarterly (in collaboration with USG) meeting for ACT stakeholders and
regions to track progress made for the ACT Initiative
 Develops and maintains effective liaisons with paediatric HIV implementing partner
organizations to ensure that timelines and quality standards for implementation of care
and support activities are met. Coordinate with implementing partner organizations and
participates in the planning and development of training programs, teaching modules,
manuals, and educational materials to address identified needs.
 Work with the HIV care and treatment team at NACP to ensure provision of direct
technical support to facilitate implementation ACT initiative including capacity building
of healthcare workers through trainings in clinical management of pediatric HIV/AIDS,
clinical mentoring, monitor progress of ACT initiative, improvement of adherence
support systems, improvement of referral systems
 Provides support to MoHSW –in monitoring the implementation for the ACT initiative,
coordinate quarterly (in collaboration with USG) meeting for ACT stakeholders and
regions to track progress made for the ACT Initiative
 Liaise with ACT funding recipients for s systems strengthening to track progress made
and reports to both USG and MOHSW
 Creatively implement efforts to support improved pediatric HIV services, identification
and support, PITC/opt out children HIV testing and good clinical practice in line with
ACT initiative.
 Support NACP to implement adherence strategies in health facilities and effective
identification and linkages of infected infants/ children from all entry points including
PMTCT to care and treatment and children/adolescent friendly clubs
 Ensure integration between TB and HIV services such that there is TB intensified case
identification, infection control within CTC for all pediatric clients.
 Maintains effective liaisons with Regional and District Paediatric team, Paediatric HIV
Care and Treatment Partners and other stakeholders to ensure achievement for ACT
Goals
 Ensure that HIV clinical care activities at NACP service delivery health facilities conform
to the Tanzanian national guidelines and that set standards are adhered and targets are
met.
 Work with THPS central technical team to support NACP to develop and disseminate
materials related to pediatric HIV/AIDS care and treatment, including clinical guidelines,
protocols, algorithms; job aides and other necessary tools as deemed necessary.
 Prepare quarterly reports to update USG on the implementation milestones made
undress the ACT initiative
 Compile monthly and quarterly ACT program implementation reports with timely
submission to the NACP and THPS
 Support planning and coordination quarterly meeting the ACT national Task Force
(Multidisciplinary to include other departments outside MOH- M of Women Gender and
Children, M of Education, TACAIDs, etc
 Perform any other duties as may be assigned by Head of Care and Treatment Unit
PREFFERED QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE
 Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree with at least 2 years of clinical practise in a recognised
public health facility
 Program/project management experience in paediatric HIV (familiarity with paediatric
care and treatment favourable)
 Master of Public Health is an added advantage
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED.
 Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems
 Ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English
 Proficient computer/software skills, including a command of MS Word and Excel
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
 Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in a national and interlink
NACP and Implementing partners
 Strong skills in diplomacy and relationship building with a variety of partners and
stakeholders
 Ability to travel domestically for IP monitoring up to 25% of the time
JOB TITLE:
DIRECT REPORTS TO:
LOCATION:
Pediatric Adherence & Psychosocial Support & Community
Linkages (APSC) Officer
Pediatric Program Officer - NACP
MoHSW-National AIDS control program – NACP
Dar es Salaam
OVERALL JOB FUNCTION:
The pediatric Adherence and Psychosocial Support and Community Linkages (APSC) officer will
serve as the focal point for all activities relating to: adherence psychosocial support and
community linkages for HIV infected children enrolled in HIV care and initiated on
antiretroviral treatment (ART) program in Tanzania. The goal is to double the number of
children in HIV care and treatment services. S/he will strengthen coordination of care within
and between health facilities providing HIV care and treatment services, facilitate development
of linkages between care and treatment clinics (CTCs) and community based support systems for
children and adolescents living with HIV.
S/he will work with the NACP counseling and social support unit towards strengthening
pediatric adherence and psychosocial support and community linkages services; and will be
responsible for scale up of children and adolescent friendly clubs and clinics, strengthen
retention strategies for children and adolescents living with HIV including adolescent peer
education programs to improve disclosure and reduce stigma and discrimination for children
living with HIV. This position is part of a multidisciplinary, comprehensive team and requires
excellent communication and problem solving skills with travel up to 25% of the time within
Tanzania.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Establish and maintain effective linkages between partners providing facility based care
and those providing community/home based care and OVC. Ensures that supported
activities at multiple delivery sites conform to national standards, guidelines, and
technical strategies. Identifies and corrects problems, barriers, and issues impeding the
effective implementation of Paediatric testing, linkages, Care, Support, and retention
program activities. Serves as an expert technical resource to MOHSW, IP’s , and other
collaborating partners on matters pertaining to paediatric HIV Testing, linkages, care,
support including retention.
 Conducts site visits to provide technical assistance and oversight to partners in ACT
program implementation. Ensures adherence to established work plans, guidelines,
policies and priorities.
 Assess program needs and issues at the national level, local level and communicates to
the Paediatric Leadership at national level and ensures consistency in the implementation
of best practices for Testing, Linkages, Care and Support and retention at the national
level and recommends revisions to policies and guidelines.
 Conduct periodic assessment of standards of care for paediatric HIV/AIDS services.
[THPS will build capacity and provide guidance in implementing this activity]
 Take part in design, training and distribution of relevant job aides and materials related to
paediatric adherence counselling and assessment.
 Coordinates Zonal Meeting for Regional Implementing Partners, USG, Regional and
Council Health Management Teams and other Paediatric stakeholders to discuss
paediatric performance against targets
 Maintains effective liaisons with Regional and District Paediatric team, Paediatric HIV
Care and Treatment Partners and other stakeholders to ensure achievement for ACT
Goals
 Conducts site visits to assess progress of Implementation of the ACT Initiative. Analyses
and evaluates program activities and writes report
 Prepare monthly summary report and provide periodic ACT progress reports and input
for the preparation of the quarterly reports.
 Coordinate different sections of the NACP including laboratory, pharmacy and supply
chain logistics, testing and counselling, information education communication (IEC),
community based HIV services and care and treatment together with USG to discuss
emerging challenges and solution as NACP implement the ACT Initiative
 Strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration with Council HIV and AIDS Coordinators
(CHAC) and other partners including linkages with community based organizations
 Participate in ACT Review progress of performance in implementing partners meeting
 Follow up with establishment and registration of children /adolescent friendly clubs in
higher volumes sites
 Provide technical assistance to the MoHSW in developing tools, materials, standard
operating procedures related to pediatric adherence and psychosocial support
 Performs other related duties as assigned by the head of care and treatment unit - NACP.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
 Nursing Degree/Registered Nurse with at least 5 years program/project management
experience working in adherence, counseling and psychosocial support and community
linkages n HIV care and treatment
 Post graduate degree in Sociology/MPH is an added advantage
 Extensive knowledge of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT),
early infant diagnosis of HIV and pediatric HIV counseling and testing programs
 Experience in working with the Local Government Authorities (LGA) community
systems is an added advantage
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED.
 Ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English
 Proficient computer/software skills, including a command of MS Word, Power Point
and Excel.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send their application letter one page maximum and CV four pages
maximum by 10th July, 2015 through email with a subject line Paediatric HIV/AIDS Officer
or Pediatric Adherence & Psychosocial Support & Community Linkages (APSC)
Officer to HR@thps.or.tz .Only short listed applicants will be contacted. Please do not attach
any certificates when submitting online.
THPS is an equal opportunity employer; women and people living with HIV/AIDS are
encouraged to apply.