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Ethiopia - Pediatric HIV/AIDS Advisor
Scope of Work (also available in PDF format)
Country: Ethiopia
Placement site: Hawassa University and area hospitals
Assignment Title: Pediatric HIV/AIDS Advisor
Assignment Code: ETH-014
Length of assignment: 6 months – 1 year
For additional information, please view our PowerPoint presentation, “Ethiopian Diaspora Volunteer Program: Strengthening the Ties with the Ethiopian Diaspora to Fight HIV/AIDS”. Also refer to NEPID.org for additional information.
OVERVIEW OF VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT |
In-country placement site:
The volunteer will work with Johns Hopkins University's Technical Support for the Ethiopia HIV/AIDS ART Initiative (JHU-TSEHAI) at several ART hospital locations. Preferably, the incumbent will spend the majority of his/her volunteer time working at Hawassa University and the surrounding ART hospital sites in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR). Initially, he/she will spend a period of time at Addis Ababa University/Black Lion Hospital and work with JHU-TSEHAI pediatric clinical advisors to become acquainted with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s pediatric ART program (including guidelines, medication recommendations, and services available for pediatric cases), and the JHU-TSEHAI pediatric work plan. By working at Hawassa University Hospital and School of Medicine, the volunteer will help strengthen pediatric care in general and specifically pediatric HIV-related care.
Volunteer assignment:
The volunteer will work with JHU-TSEHAI to fulfill the goals and targets of the JHU pediatric work plan. Objectives include training and education of health professionals on pediatric ART guidelines and treatment, direct clinical mentorship to general practitioners and pediatricians at JHU ART sites, establishing systems to increase the testing and ART uptake of children, establishing clinics for HIV-exposed infants, improving linkages between PMTCT and ART clinics for children, addressing the preventive and palliative care needs of children (including nutrition), and any other tasks directly related to quality care service delivery for pediatric HIV patients.
Length of the assignment: 6 months – 1 year
Name and title of supervisor: Dr. Meg Doherty at JHU; Dean of Awassa School of Medicine in Hawassa
Name and title of counterpart: TBD
Volunteer Qualifications:
Required:
- Licensed medical practitioner; MD
- Residency trained and certified as a pediatrician
- 3-5 years work experience in providing HIV care and treatment
- Experience providing and monitoring ART in patients
- Experience in providing training and hands-on support in HIV/AIDS care and treatment
Preferred:
- Ability to work independently with strong leadership skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Previous experience working in resource limited settings
- Previous experience in working with diverse professionals
- Creative when there is a lack of services and diagnostics
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop cooperative working relationships
- Medical education experience and desire to teach students, RNs, HOs, GPs as well as pediatricians
- Flexible and willing to travel
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OBJECTIVE OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT |
The volunteer will work with the JHU-TSEHAI pediatric team to implement the pediatric work plan. Once an introductory period is complete, the volunteer will work at Hawassa University and the surrounding ART hospital sites in SNNPR to strengthen pediatric ART care services, including improved diagnosis of HIV, identification of patients in need, family care, and appropriate use of pediatric ART.
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ACTIVITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT |
Volunteer activities:
- Review pediatric work plan; joint planning of SNNPR activities with JHU team
- Participate in the training and education of Hawassa School of Medicine health professionals on pediatric ART guidelines and treatment (can be pre-service or continuing education programs).
- Provide direct clinical mentorship to general practitioners, nurses, health officers, and pediatricians at JHU ART sites
- Establish systems to increase the testing and ART uptake of children
- Support program of early pediatric diagnosis [Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of Dried Blood Spots (DBS) at the SNNPR regional lab]
- Supervise sites regarding HIV clinics for infants
- Improving linkages between PMTCT and ART clinics for children
- Address preventive and palliative care needs of children, including nutrition, and education for family on safe breastfeeding and care of HIV-positive children
- Other tasks directly related to quality care service delivery for pediatric HIV patients
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EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT |
Expected Outcomes:
- Development of pre-service and continuing education training programs for pediatric HIV at Hawassa University School of Medicine, in collaboration with university faculty
- All ART sites in SNNPR delivering full spectrum of pediatric HIV care
- All sites with PMTCT programs forge linkages to HIV clinics with screening for HIV care and treatment
- Increased number of children on ART
- Improved quality of care for pediatric ART programs
- Addition of nutritional programs for HIV-positive children
Deliverables:
- Organizational assessment of the placement hospital/centers
- Needs assessment including an analysis of staff education and training needs
- Regular reports documenting progress toward objectives in action plan, and documentation of training, consultation, and mentorship provided
- Plan for follow-up with clinic pediatric patients
- Final report
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS |
Volunteer:
- Perform as a member of the JHU-TSEHAI clinical and training team; will be held to similar standards of reporting, participation in training and meetings, and travel to meet the PEPFAR and USG targets related to pediatric HIV care
- Inform and update JHU-TSEHAI regarding accomplishments and challenges in the field and work with JHU to improve quality of pediatric ART services
- Complete the scope of work in the time frame outlined
- Complete Twinning Center’s assessment and monthly monitoring and evaluation reports
- Submit a post-assignment final report and participate in an exit interview
- Adhere to the AIHA Volunteer Standards of Conduct
Placement organization/institution (JHU-TSEHAI):
- Provide the volunteer with detailed pediatric work plan and, with the incumbent, adapt the plan to her/his specific strengths and interests
- Develop joint action plans with the Pediatric Support Team
- Provide an office space at Hawassa University within the regional office
- Provide timely feedback on activities and outcomes of program strengthened or established by the volunteer
- Provide resources necessary for the volunteer to carry out assignment successfully
- Identify a placement site for the volunteer to ensure sustainability of volunteer activities
- Submit performance assessment reports on the volunteer to the Twinning Center
AIHA Twinning Center will:
- Conduct pre-assignment orientation and training for volunteer and placement site staff
- Provide volunteer with safe housing, monthly living allowance, medical evacuation coverage, and travel-related costs to and from placement site
- Provide ongoing support of volunteer as needed
To apply for this position, please complete the VHC Application Form.
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