Senior Program Officer Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) at Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria

Summary/Overview

• The Senior Program Officer, MNCH will provide administrative, programmatic and logistical support to Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Unit of the Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria.
• S/he is also expected to spend about 60% of working hours on supervisory and advocacy activities.

Essential Functions

• Assist in the development and adaptation of guidelines, tools and other relevant materials for use in the national scale up of PMTCT activities in IHVN-supported sites in Nigeria.
• Assist in development of program strategies, work plans and their implementation for effective operations of the hub and spoke model of scale up.
• Ensure smooth operations and coordination of PMTCT activities at the regional and or state offices.
• Forecast and request for PMTCT commodities such as care kits and Mama Packs.
• Co-ordinate, track progress, review results and address PMTCT challenges
• Mentor doctors, nurses, mentor mothers to provide quality care to HIV+ pregnant women.
• Create a sustainable PMTCT team that includes Traditional Birth Attendant to deliver overall quality health care to HIV+ pregnant women.
• Ensure that the facility operates a functional and efficient client flow system.
• Identify barriers to PMTCT and proffer solutions to these challenges.
• Assist and undertake needs assessments of new sites as required.
• Facilitate and coordinate all trainings sessions organized for site health care workers.
• Provide technical assistance to site and community staff through precepting, monitoring and mentoring.
• Facilitate and coordinate the activities of Infant Feeding Counseling activities and training of health care workers at all IHVN supported sites in Nigeria.
• Facilitate effective linkages within thematic groups and overall community linkages.
• Report all activities to the Program Area Lead and the Director, Community Health department.
• Adhere and abide by the ethics and code of conduct of the Institute.

Qualifications

• MBBS and Postgraduate Medical Fellowship or MBBS/ RN, RM, BNSc. and a Postgraduate Degree in Public Health with a minimum of 7 years proven work experience and expertise in the implementation of public health programs especially Reproductive Health issues
• Strong inter-personal and public relations skills
• Excellent English language oral and written communication, with proficiency in MS Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of personalities is necessary.
• Ability to clearly explain available PMTCT services.
• Community outreach and engagement talents.
• Clear understanding of the health system, Primary Health Care structure and HIV/AIDS.
• Supportive attitude towards processes of strengthening Primary Health Centers, local health structures and building local capacities for self-management.