District Laboratory Coordinator - MDH

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Management and Development for Health (MDH) is a non for profit Tanzanian organization that focuses primarily on making contribution to the Nation in addressing public health priorities through evidence based interventions, education and research.  (MDH) supports the Government of Tanzania through the municipal councils of Ilala, Temeke, Kinondoni, Ubungo and Kigamboni in implementation of the program on HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment and monitoring of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

In order to strengthen the care and treatment of PLWHA in Dar es Salaam, MDH on behalf of Ilala Municipal Council seeks to employ the District Laboratory Coordinator:

DISTRICT LABORATORY COORDINATOR (1):

Work Station:  Ilala, Dar es Salaam  

Reports To:  Laboratory Service Manager

JOB SUMMARY:

The District Laboratory Coordinator a self-motivated individual who will be responsible for providing oversight to Laboratory support services for HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs at the district from higher to lower level laboratories. His/ Her main objective is to guarantee at field level the technical performance of the MDH supported laboratories in the aspect of diagnostic, safety and quality assurance. She/he will work in close collaboration with the relevant regional, district and facility level health management teams.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Rapid HIV Testing i. Ensure job aids for rapid HIV testing and waste management are posted at every testing point and SOPs available ii. Ensure HIV logbook are available at every testing point and utilized properly iii. Ensure every HIV testing staff is competent to carry out the test iv. Ensure test kits are constantly available including all the necessary supplies like stopwatch

2. HIV Viral Load Testing (HVL) i. Scale up HVL testing by training clinicians, nurses and Laboratorians

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ii. Ensure efficient sample collection at facilities and transportation to testing laboratory. iii. Ensure initial sample preparation is done at hubs and transportation to testing laboratory  iv. Ensure smooth transportation of test results from testing laboratory back to the hubs and finally to facilities v. Ensure job aids are posted and availability of SOPs  vi. Ensure all the HVL related data are kept and easily accessible for reporting vii. Carry out supportive visits to provide technical assistance

3. HIV Early Infant Diagnosis (HEID) i. Promote HEID testing by training clinicians, nurses and Laboratorians ii. Ensure efficient sample collection and DBS preparation, transportation to testing laboratory as well as results feedback to testing facilities iii. Ensure job aids are posted and availability of SOPs iv. Ensure all the HEID related data are kept and easily accessible for reporting v. Carry out supportive visits to provide technical assistance

4. Quality Assurance at testing laboratories

- Quality Management System   i. Ensuring good quality clinical laboratory testing in MDH supported private and public sites by assessing site needs, identifying areas for quality improvement and provide technical assistance ii. Ensure Lab manuals, guidelines, SOPs, work sheets and forms are utilized appropriately. iii. Ensure constant availability of reagents and other lab supplies with good and safe storage iv. Work closely with health facility laboratory personnel and quality officer in developing and/or refining SOPs and protocols for laboratory services  v. Assist in the implementation, monitoring, and documentation of laboratory test results. vi. Institute and monitor the use of internal quality control in all tests performed vii. Review quality control data and assure that patient results are not reported when tolerance limits are exceeded.      viii. Advise the senior line manager on quality control/quality assurance issues and ensure participation of health facility labs in proficiency testing programs. ix. Assist in the development of SOPs for implementation, site assessment follow-up and corrective action and quality assurance procedures. x. Assist in the calibration of instruments; performance of preventative and corrective maintenance, function checks, and repairs on instruments and equipment.

- Lab Accreditation  i. Play supportive role in provision of technical assistance for the selected labs for accreditation. ii. Provide mentorship to laboratory staff to address laboratory quality improvement gaps for accreditation iii. Assist the laboratories to carry out the laboratory quality improvement projects iv. Assist the laboratories to institute the laboratory quality improvement monitoring system to ensure it quickly detect and identify causes for under performance.

- EQA

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i. Ensure that all testing points participate fully on EQA program, i.e., receive EQA samples, perform the tests and submit results in time. ii. Ensure that all participating testing sites perform well on EQA program by providing supportive visits and mentorship to low performing sites iii. Work with CHMT to ensure EQA samples reach to the testing facilities on time iv. Ensure every testing point have got yellow file to keep all the EQA records  

5. National Laboratory Sample Referral System i. Ensure that all sample collection hubs are functional ii. Carry out need assessment to identify areas for improvement at all hubs iii. Ensure reliable means of sample and results transportation between facility-hubs and testing laboratory iv. Build capacity for the hubs to monitor samples and results transportation with good record keeping

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION  Degree in Medical or Biomedical Laboratory Sciences  Trained on SLMTA or CLSI accreditation program  At least 3 years’ experience in HIV Care and Treatment Laboratory Program Management.   Ability to write report and prepare planning  Ability to mentor laboratory staff on technical and quality management system     Experience working with CHMT will be an added advantage 

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates should submit their application letters, CVs, Certified photocopies of certificates and names and contact information (email addresses and telephone numbers) of two references.  Applications should be submitted by 17th April, 2017 to the HR Manager, MDH through e-mail hr@mdh-tz.org or drop by hand at our MDH Mikocheni Office near New Regency Park Hotel.

Please note; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.