Specialist PMTCT at Georgetown University Center for Global Health Practice and Impact (CGHPI)

Slots: Bauchi (3), Jigawa (2) and Kano (5)

Job Overview

• PMTCT Specialist will work with the state program implementing team to strengthen PMTCT services at facilities and communities for pregnant, lactating women, and infants.
• They will ensure that HIV-positive women are identified for enrollment, adherence, treatment, and follow-up.
• They will adhere to the national guidelines on PMTCT services for optimal patient outcome

Responsibilities

• Strengthen HIV services across the clinical cascade for pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and HIV exposed infants by incorporating PMTCT services with antenatal, neonatal, postpartum, and child health services
• Link pregnant and breastfeeding women to appropriate services such as OVC and DREAMS
• Provide counseling services for pregnant women and their partners and test for HIV in PMTCT services
• As part of the routine index testing and partner notification services, provide PrEP or Link HIV uninfected pregnant and breastfeeding women to PrEP services
• Identify episodes of infections during pregnancy and breastfeeding by providing re-testing services for mothers’ post-ANC such as labor and delivery, postpartum FP services, MCH/Immunization clinics
• Ensure adherence to national protocol by following up HIV positive pregnant women to prevent mother to child transmission
• Counsel HIV positive mothers to breastfeed safely
• Prior to the final HIV outcome, Track mother and baby receiving PMTCT services for 18 months and or 6 weeks after cessation of breastfeeding and their transition to ART clinic
• Ensure client records are updated and accurate
• Counsel HIV positive women on family planning (FP) and FP methods particularly for the post-partum period
• Ensure that birth attendants and similar professionals provide ultimate safe delivery services according to national protocol whilst following up HIV positives  
• Organize educational and or information sessions at health centers or communities to create awareness on HIV transmission, services available to prevent parent to child transmission, safe sex to prevent HIV infections
• Ensure accurate weekly, monthly data regarding PMTCT services are provided.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing with full registration and current practicing license with the relevant body
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in HIV/AIDS counseling 
• Specialized knowledge:  Training acquired as PMTC counselor and/or experience in HIV counseling and testing for adults, adolescents, and children; Basic knowledge of HIV related services; knowledgeable about national PMTCT guidelines
• Skills: Proficient in excel, word processing. Strong written and oral communications skills
• Abilities: Strategic and analytical thinking skills, Problem-solving
• Interpersonal/Individual Competencies: the ability to work with other team members, Self-driven and committed
• Professional Certification: A certificate in Nursing is preferable.

Work Interactions and Conditions:

• Ability to manage tight deadlines, and deliver a high volume of work with minimal supervision.