PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.
The assisted partner services (aPS) scale-up study aims to evaluate effectiveness and feasibility of integrated assisted partner services in western Kenya to increase the number of people testing for HIV and prevent the further spread of the disease in the high-burden communities.
We are committed to excellence in our research, and to working with vulnerable populations with the utmost respect and Care. We require all team members to provide ethical and respectful services to vulnerable, key populations, and to maintain flexible hours in order to interface effectively with international partners.
We seek to recruit 6 Health Advisors for our research teams based in Homa Bay and Kisumu. Health Advisors will be responsible for working with facility based HTS personnel, providing technical advice on aPS to HTS providers and support data collection activities for the study, including interviews and blood draws. They must be comfortable working with HIV-infected people in the locations where they and/or their partners live and dwell.They must be able to work with minimal supervision and for long hours when necessary.They will report to the Study Coordinator. These positions are temporary for a period of 18 months beginning January 2018 and will be based in Kisumu.
Specific duties and responsibilities:
- Support facility based HTS providers to screen and enroll eligible HIV-infected persons into the study
- Provide expert advice on aPS protocols for screening and enroling eligible HIV-infected people into the study.
- Support facility-based personnel to perform blood draws for HIV-infected people enrolled in the study as per study protocols
- Support the conduct of interviews with study participants using mobile data entry technology as per study protocols.
- Provide supportive supervision to facility teams and be responsible for following up index participants’ sexual partners through either home visits or phone calls.
- Support facility HTS providers to perform HIV testing and counseling for index participants and their sexual partners in compliance with national guidelines and as per study protocols.
- Maintain familiarity with the protocol and standard operation procedures (SOP) of the study.
- Provide ongoing counseling and relevant referrals for participant support, including HIV care services, support groups, violence prevention organizations.
- Document clinic, home visits, and phone calls on source documents and case report forms (CRFs).
- Safeguard source documents and CRFs and ensure data quality.
- Participate in community engagement activities and meetings.
- Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports as needed for the Study Coordinator.
- Meet the agreed study targets.
- Any other duties as directed by Study Coordinator.
Required Experience
- Diploma or degree in public health, nursing, clinical medicine, or other health-related fields. Three years working experience in a similar role, preferably in health related research study settings or any related field.
- Certificate in Voluntary Counseling and Testing or HTS from NASCOP.
- Certificate or formal training and experience in phlebotomy.
- Updated work experience in current national HTS guidelines. .
- Experience working with key and priority populations is desirable.
- Experience in Home-Based Counseling and Testing is desirable.
- Experience in social work and research projects will be an added advantage.
- Willingness to work as a team player.
- Ability to maintain flexible work hours, including occasional nights and weekends, in order to interface with key and priority populations and international partners.
Must have legal authorization to work in Kenya.
PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
More Information
- Job City Kisumu
