Malaria Diagnostic Technical Advisor – Sierra Leone 659 views1 applications

The International Division of Medical Care Development, MCDI was founded in 1977 with the belief that MCD’s successful approach to health systems development in the rural United States could be adapted to meet the needs of developing nations. A global non-profit organization, MCDI uses practical, evidence-based and high-impact approaches to strengthen health systems in developing countries. For almost 40 years, MCDI has worked to improve the health of vulnerable populations overseas through integrated, sustainable and locally-driven interventions. MCDI has implemented public health programs in over 40 countries aimed at targeting the world’s most vulnerable populations. MCDI collaborates with donors, national governments, the private sector, health agencies, communities and local stakeholders to improve health and save lives in the following areas: malaria control; maternal, neonatal and child health; water, sanitation and hygiene; tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; and other communicable diseases.

Malaria Diagnostic Technical Advisor will be responsible for ensuring technical rigor on the implementation of malaria diagnostic service delivery activities in the assigned country and liaise with and maintain productive collaborative relationships with in-country partners such as 1) Advance the Progress of U.S President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria (PMI Impact Malaria) Consortium (PSI/MCDI/Jhpiego/ UCSF/Global Health and Sciences/ MEI; 2) PMI/Country team and other PMI implementing partners; 3) Ministry of Health/National Malaria Control Program and other departments; 4) other stakeholders working in malaria, such as local NGO, private sector representatives, WHO country office, etc.

Local Office Technical support for PMI Impact malaria:
He/She will work as part of the project team in Sierra Leone providing technical leadership on malaria diagnosis.
MCDI role within the PMI Impact Malaria consortium on diagnostics includes but it is not limited to malaria RDTs, malaria microscopy and differential diagnosis of nonmalarial causes of fever and malaria complications requiring diagnostics support. Most of these diagnostics tests are done to febrile individuals recruited via passive case detection in health facilities, but may also include detection of chronic, subclinical malaria.

MCDI’s Malaria Diagnostic Technical Assistance:

She/he will provide MCDI and PMI Impact Malaria project with local-based technical leadership on malaria diagnostics, training, supervision and quality assurance/quality control on malaria diagnosis. This technical assistance includes (among others) the provision of technical assistance to Home Office and field teams, provide technical assistance to the MOH/NMCP on malaria diagnosis, provide training, develop SOPs, manuals, training materials, participate in manuscript preparation, semi-annual and annual report, represent of MCDI in regional and global technical working groups and consortia, promotion of MCDI’s capabilities with potential collaborating partners, and disseminating MCDI’s malaria experience to global audiences.

Other Functions:

Other functions will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
• Facilitating the establishment and development of laboratory services in Sierra Leone to support and strengthen malaria diagnosis, including coordinating and participating in diagnostic evaluations relating to improved malaria diagnostic services.
• Providing laboratory technical support to PMI Impact Malaria/MCDI including overseeing laboratory technical activities and ensuring high quality of project implementation in Sierra Leone.
• Developing and implementing training, continuing education and supervisory programmes for laboratory staff to strengthen quality malaria diagnosis in Sierra Leone, including the development of health learning materials.
• Participating in the development of national laboratory policies and guidelines addressing malaria diagnostics and their utilisation.
• Developing and strengthening national quality assurance structures, systems and programmes for laboratory staff to support malaria diagnostic activities.
• Participating, cooperating and liaising with all MCDI partners, and with governments, institutions of higher learning, universities, schools of medicine and related fields, and other health agencies, both national and international with the purpose of developing and promoting the PMI impact Malaria project.
• Representing MCDI at national, regional and international fora.
• Assisting in developing and conducting operational research relating to the PMI impact Malaria project objectives; analysing results and disseminating reports including publishing of scientific papers, and making presentations at national, regional and international meetings and conferences.
• Assisting in monitoring and evaluating project activities, and preparing budgets and progress reports.
• Any other duties that may be required by the Technical lead of MCDI.
• Assist in the dissemination of the malaria case management (diagnostic) policy
• Track and report on accomplishment of activities in the workplan;
• Submit weekly written /or verbal (during weekly calls) updates on the work undertaken under each of the areas described above, significant achievements, challenges, and plans for the coming week;
• Provide Case Management training and continued adaptation of materials for the enhanced case management (clinical and diagnostic) supervision process: Materials for the malaria case management (clinical and diagnostic) supervision process, based on mentoring concepts, will be drafted and vetted as needed with the NMCP;
• Identify barriers to care-seeking behavior and options for community-based service delivery;

Qualifications/Requirements:

• At least a Masters’ degree in biomedical Sciences preferable in medical parasitology. A PhD or Doctorate degree in Medical Biology will be highly regarded;
• At least 10 years of professional experience in malaria, especially on diagnosis, treatment; prevention, control and/or malaria elimination, either in an academic, research and/or program setting;
• Experience working with malaria donors such as USAID, World Bank, Global Fund, DFID will be preferred;
• Experience in writing scientific report, manuscript and peer-reviewed publications;
• Good interpersonal skills, team player and makes her/himself available as needed;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Must have General professional and technical proficiency in the English
• Very proficient in the use of the standard Microsoft Office package with particular experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer.