The AIDS Support Organization (TASO Uganda), was founded to contribute to a process of preventing HIV infection, restoring hope and improving the quality of life of persons, families and communities affected by HIV infection and disease. TASO is implementing various projects funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund in partnership with various Implementing Partners to support the Government of Uganda accelerate epidemic control and the attainment of the UNAIDS 95 95 95 goals. TASO requires the services of dedicated, competent, innovative and result-oriented individuals for employment on a contract basis for the posts below;
Job Title (2) REF: TS/HR/PMGT/48: EMTCT/EID Project Officer (1)
Classification: Contract, Full-time
Reporting to: Prevention Care and Treatment PO/Cluster Team Leader
Salary: Commensurate with training and experience
Duty Station: Nakapiripirit Cluster – Soroti Regional Project
Directly Supervises: None
Technically Supports: Mother Mentors

Main Purpose of the Job:
The Project Officer- Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/Early Infant Diagnosis (EMTCT/EID) will support the implementation of EMTCT/EID, MNCH and NACS services in the Cluster Areas in Soroti Region. S/he will spearhead mentorship and supervise district frontline health workers in both technical aspects of maternal and child health (MCH), elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV (EMTCT) and in professional health care delivery. The major roles include coordinating trainings, providing mentorship, supporting documentation and reporting related to MNCH and EMTCT.

Key Outputs
• Support DHTs and Public Health Facilities to provide HIV and syphilis prevention information and promote HIV testing as a routine service in all MNCH services, STI clinics and outpatient clinics
• Promote early initiation of ANC (at least by 12-14 weeks) by pregnant women through Community mobilization.
• Promote re-testing for HIV negative pregnant women during antenatal, labour and post-natal in line with national guidelines
• Promote couple/partner HIV/STI testing and counseling for all young women Promote safer sex for discordant couples, dual protection; evaluate and prioritize for treatment
• Promote condom use/dual protection among young women and men
• Support the provision of STI treatment to young women and their partners and establishment of Adolescent, friendly Sexual Reproductive health services, targeting adolescent girls and young women age 10-24 years

Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide mentorship to front line health workers within the district health facilities in delivery of elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV services (Option B+), Early Infant Diagnosis care and related Maternal and Child Care in the districts.
2. Support implementation and use of MoH guidelines and ensure compliance with MoH policies.
3. Coordinate required trainings for the district staff in relation to implementation of EMTCT.
4. Support professional continuous medical education sessions at the health facilities in line with EMTCT and related MCH areas.
5. Facilitate continuous quality improvement activities to improve EMTCT within the district health facilities.
6. Participate in QA/QC for services in project-supported facilities in the districts.
7. Ensure that all heath facilities make and submit required reports in time and also generate reports for the program reporting,
8. Ensure the health workers obtain the updated and required tools to support care.
9. Coordinate and support follow up of clients (Mother-Baby Pairs) to improve retention in care for Option B+ patients and their exposed infants.
10. Support integration of maternal care within EID care points to support client centered care
11. Coordinate technical support supervision for Health facilities in the district.
12. Scale up integration of family planning counseling and services including condoms provision into all MNCH and HIV services.
13. Support the provision of family planning services (including dual protection) through community based structures that provide support to HIV-infected women and partners.
14. Disseminate tools to facilitate integration of FP MNCH and HIV services.
15. Work with Health facilities to provide quality infant feeding counseling and support during ANC, delivery, post-natal and immunization clinics including during outreach service provision
16. Build capacity of the district MNCH/HIV & AIDS, TOT teams, with public and private sector representatives, in eMTCT, EID and Pediatric HIV care and treatment through training, refresher courses, orientation meetings and support supervisory visits.
17. Work with the DHTs to coordinate Nutritional Assessment and Counselling Support (NACS) and provision of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Feeds (RUTF) to malnourished infants and young children
18. Work with the DHTs and PHFs to facilitate the provision and access to Early Infant Diagnostic (EID) services for HIV-Exposed Infants (HEI).
19. Work with the Capacity Development Advisor to coordinate modular training/refreshers of health providers (with practical component) in eMTCT, EID and Pediatric HIV care and treatment as defined in the Regional and District training plans.
20. Conduct mentoring and QI learning for health workers already trained and providing services in general PMTCT, infant feeding, EID and adult ART to also deliver Pediatric HIV care and treatment, using modules of the updated training materials.
21. Compile best practices and harmonize approaches into a comprehensive community service package that can be owned and sustainably implemented at all levels.
22. Support existing community organizations, civil society activities, local culture group activities and professional organizations that can be used to support and build capacity of community structures in delivering the national plan for eMTCT.
23. Work with the Capacity Development Advisor to coordinate training community organizations, PLHIV and civil society organizations, using gender sensitive and rights based approaches, on how to sensitize and capacitate local communities to support and deliver PMTCT and Pediatric HIV care.
24. Accelerate and standardize setting up Pediatric HIV care and treatment support groups, building on existing PMTCT and other HIV & AIDS support groups.
25. Encourage the use of mobile phones (mHealth) for the follow up of PLHIV women and their exposed infants/children to ensure continuum of care and accuracy of data.
26. Engage the facility HCWs to monitor and supervise the Mentor mothers and PLHIV groups in the community for effective implementation of the eMTCT plan.
27. Engage Mentor mothers to provide HIV prevention information and promote HIV testing as a routine service in all RCH sites (ANC, Maternity, Postpartum clinics, Child health/immunization clinics, Family planning clinics, STI clinics, outpatient clinics, outreach clinics etc.) as well as advocating for couple HIV testing and counseling for all young women.
28. Support Mentor Mothers to create demand for safe delivery services by skilled attendants in health facilities as well as utilization of postpartum care by actively tracking both mothers and mother baby pairs
29. Any other duties as may be assigned by your immediate supervisor.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS: EMTCT/EID Project Officer
Minimum Academic Qualifications
• Diploma in Registered Comprehensive Nursing/ Midwifery OR Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing or a related field. Completion of Registered training in Midwifery from a recognized education institution is a prerequisite.
• Training in elimination of mother to child transmission Option B+

Experience and Exposure: At least 3 years’ experience in HIV/AIDS programming, preferably with PEPFAR-funded projects. Experience in a busy clinical setting preferably in the district health system setting is required

Skills
• Knowledge and understanding of maternal and child health issues especially goal oriented ANC – Knowledge of good nursing procedures and practices
• Report writing skills and basic knowledge of Microsoft word, Excel and power point packages
• Attention to detail, especially regarding data accuracy.
• Team player and management skills.
• Good communication skills. Ability to communicate in the local language (Ngakaramojong) is a MUST.
• Sensitivity of cultural differences and understanding of the political and ethical issues surrounding HIV and EMTCT services Ability to work with others and maintain compatibility among project staff, sub-contractors, consultants and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to manage projects, set priorities and plan for the successful implementation of programs.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, team player with drive as an initiative Program management experience with implementation of EMTCT/EID and MNCH program
• Familiarity with decentralized public health systems.
• Excellent computer skills in MS Office Applications.
• Proven ability to ride a motor cycle is a MUST.
• Willingness to work in rural settings

Other Qualities/Attributes: Integrity, Emotional control, Confidentiality and Openness, Team player, Ability to work under mental and physical stress and Empathy.