Country: Malawi Place of work: Chiradzulu district Starting date: January 2012 Duration of mission: 12 months
Position and function
This MSF position is based in Chiradzulu mission and requires regular trips to Lilongwe (to work with MSF coordination and Ministry of Health and Population). The post holder will oversee the monitoring and evaluation activities of the HIV program in Chiradzulu district by: 1. coordinating routine HIV data collection and supervising data entry staff 2. performing data management and analyses 3. ensuring feedback and use of program process indicators and outcomes for decision-making by the medical focal point, the field coordinator and the coordination team. 4. working closely with the data team supervisor as s/he oversees staff responsible for data entry, data cleaning, management and report generation. 5. providing Epidemiological support for the implementation of field research The epidemiologist is under the scientific responsibility of Epicentre through the Regional Epidemiologist.
MSF program in Chiradzulu district
Malawi is one the most affected countries by the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa with about 1 million people leaving with HIV. Chiradzulu district is a rural district located in the southern region of Malawi. MSF has been providing ART to the HIV infected Chiradzulu district population since 2001, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoH). By the end of May 2011, more than 50 000 people have been enrolled in the Chiradzulu program. More than 28 000 have initiated ART and 19 000 are still followed on treatment. Among the 22 000 who have not initiated ART, 9 000 are still followed. Activities are taking place at the Chiradzulu District Hospital and 10 Health Centers of the district. 82% of the patients are currently followed in the HCs. MSF program supports the following:
- HIV special clinic (children, 2nd line regimen patients, Kaposi Sarcoma)
- Health center medical team
- TB program
- Hospital inpatient department
- PMTCT
- Laboratory
- Pharmacy
- Training
- Counseling and testing
- IEC/ tracing and support group
Six Month Appointment program
Responsibilities
- Support routine HIV data collection o Provide technical support to routine HIV data collection using the Fuchia software o Support and advise other departments on data collection (specific tools, MoH registers)
- Data quality assurance and analysis o Contributing to the quality of the data in terms of minimizing missing data and measurement errors (e.g. generation of lists of errors, design and implementation of data quality assurance procedures) o Provide technical support to monthly data analysis, interpretation and reporting o Provide technical support to quarterly data analysis, interpretation and reporting (MOH / MSF report) o Provide technical support to use of database and spreadsheets for routine reporting o Lead production of annual medical report o Perform additional statistical analyses and interpretation o Create and use additional reporting functions for daily management of HIV clinics and support activities (e.g. nutrition, tracing)
- Ensure feedback and use of program process indicators and outcomes for decision-making o Participation in internal MSF medical meetings (quarterly presentation of project data) o Participation in external coordination meetings with relevant department of the Ministry of Health and Population, the National AIDS Commission, other NGOs as necessary o Organize specific meetings with other departments to brainstorm, give feedback of the project and create a transversal dynamism.
- Work closely with the data team supervisor as s/he oversees staff responsible for data entry, management and report generation. o Assist the data team supervisor for any staff management or logistic support and provide supervision for Data Team Supervisor, Epidemiologist Assistant and Survey Assistant. o Assist implementation and interpretation of pre-built reports o Provide training to involved staff
Ensure Epidemiological support for field research o Contribute to writing up of research protocols o Ensure compliance with research protocols (e.g. patient eligibility and recruitment, inform consent data collection) o If requested, data analysis o Contribute to results dissemination: writing up of scientific articles, abstracts and communications for conferences
Position in the organization chart The post holder is placed under the authority of the MSF Head of Mission for administrative and security matters. S/He is directly responsible for liaising between the field and country coordination. The post holder reports directly to the Epicentre Regional Epidemiologist, Epicentre HIV Referent and Medical Coordinator for scientific matters. In the position, the post holder will support the medical coordination team at the country and the field coordination for monitoring/research HIV-related issues. S/He must work in close collaboration with the medical coordinator, the medical focal point, the field coordinator and all program managers (see list) at both field teams to ensure accurate and effective monitoring.
Selection criteria Degrees Master in Epidemiology (including modules on advanced medical statistics) or Medical statistics
Experience: Extensive experience on data collection, management, and analysis of large databases Experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation in resource-poor settings Skilled in the use of statistical software such as STATA. Recommended: Experience in designing of monitoring and evaluation activities in resource-poor settings Experienced in HIV/AIDS work Experience in use of Fuchia will be an asset.
Language: Fluent English (written and spoken)
Please send your CV and motivation letter by email to : Nathalie Guérineau at job@epicentre.msf.org (Ref : Epi- Malawi) Deadline of application : 28th October 2011 For further information about the position please contact : Mar Pujades, mar.pujades@epicentre.msf.org; or Elisabeth Poulet, elisabeth.poulet@epicentre.msf.org.
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