Pharmacovigilance Officer for HIV program 102 views0 applications

Organizational overview: Founded in 2002 by President William J. Clinton, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other illnesses. Based on the premise that a business oriented strategy can facilitate solutions to global health challenges, CHAI acts as a catalyst to mobilize new resources and optimize the impact of these resources to save lives, via improved organization of commodity markets and more effective local management. CHAI does not operate stand-alone programs, nor does it build parallel health systems. Rather, CHAI works at the invitation and in support of governments. CHAI’s teams are working side-by-side with more than 30 governments to tackle many of the largest barriers to effective health care.

Position Overview: CHAI is seeking highly motivated individual with outstanding credentials, analytical ability, management capabilities, and communication skills to serve as Pharmacovigilance Officer for CHAI Ethiopia’s HIV Access Program.  

JOB SUMMARY: The Pharmacovigilance Officer will be responsible to design and conduct assessment/surveillance on adverse effects/toxicities associated with ARVs. The Officer will design assessment/survey protocols including data collection tools, analyze data, prepare assessment/survey reports and abstracts for publication. The officer is also responsible to design interventions that need to be implemented to address gaps, if any, identified by the assessment/survey. The officer will work closely with CHAI teammates, central, regional and facility level government and non-government stakeholders.

The officer is required to travel about 75% of his/her time to regions, zones, woredas, health facilities and other areas to execute his/her roles and responsibilities.

REPORTS TO:      Program Manager – HIV Access Program

 SUPERVISES: N/A

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advises the HIV program and take a lead role on setting up process and systems to conduct assessment/survey on safety of dolutegravir (DTG).
• In collaboration MOH, EFDA and other stakeholders, design DTG safety assessment/survey protocol, collect data, data analysis using SPSS, prepare the assessment/survey report and conduct presentation to various workshops as per the direction of the PM.
• Support health facilities, woreda health offices, zonal health departments, RHBs, MOH, EPSA, EPHI or HAPCO to strengthen targeted HIV testing, linkage to ART, access to optimal ART, ARV prophylaxis, adherence counseling, viral load monitoring, data capturing and reporting, and HIV products supply chain management.
• Provide orientation training for data collectors.
• Based on DTG safety assessment/survey findings and as agreed with MOH/EFDA, prepare and provide gap filling training for ART service providers and other stakeholders on the approaches that need to be followed to minimize impacts of DTG toxicities if any.
• Compile other countries similar assessment/survey on safety of dolutegravir (DTG) and synthesize the study with the one you are going to conduct and identify similarities and differences for decision makers.
• Support EFDA to strengthen the national pharmacovigilance system.
• Participate in and support Technical Working Group/Task Force activities, review meetings, or workshops on HIV/ART in general and medicines safety in particular.
• Conduct other ARVs and ART service related assessments as may be required by the HIV program.
• Disseminate information from CHAI and other sources on HIV/ART and related updates or issues.
• Conduct regular HIV/ART services gap assessments and identify areas of intervention for CHAI and other stakeholders.
• Compile necessary reports for internal and donor consumptions.
• Execute other works as assigned by CHAI HIV Program manager.

Qualifications: – The following are compulsory requirements:

1. Educational background and certification:

o    Attended Pharmacy school or Medical school in accredited College or University.

o    Graduated in BSc in Pharmacy or Medicine.

o    Masters in pharmacology or pharmaceutics or public health.

o    Received basic training on HIV/ART with acceptable certification.

Ø Applicants are required to submit valid certificates to prove the above educational and training qualifications.

1. Experiences:

o    At least 5 years of experience on HIV/ART, specifically as ART service provider or trainer or mentor at least for two years. Note: Submit valid evidence/certificates to prove your experience.

o    Experience in conducting assessments or surveys on ARVs safety/toxicities or HIV care and treatment as data collection tools designer, data collectors, data analyzer and report writer. Note: Applicants are expected to attach evidence of their previous work to show their experience on assessment/surveys on ARVs safety/toxicities or HIV care and treatment.

1. Other required qualifications:

o    Proven knowledge on latest HIV treatment and monitoring guidelines of Ethiopia.

o    Knowledge on the national HIV program, and the overall national health care systems.

o    Proven knowledge on pharmacovigilance.

o    Excellent oral and written communication skills

o    Fluent in English and Amharic. Fluency in regional/local languages is an advantage

o    Excellent computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, SPSS and Power point.

o    Proven skill and experience on assessment design, data collection, analysis and lucid report writing. This includes ability to design data collection tool using Survey CTO, and to analyze data using SPSS.

o    Willingness to travel 75% of his/her time to regions, zones, woredas, health facilities and other remote areas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·    Strong relationship management and documentation skills

·    Organizational skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize

·    Flexibility

·    Humility and willingness to work hard in difficult conditions, patience with bureaucracy

·    Ability to work in a team effectively, in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously

·    Ability to set and meet time-lines and deadlines

·    Comfortable working with government officials and people of varied cultures and background

·    Ability to manage and follow-up with a team while maintaining a team spirit and collaborative approach.