NPO NOB- HIV & Care Treatment

Contract

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WHO Kenya Country Office

National Professional Officer, NOB Position- HIV Care and Treatment

Terms of Reference

1. Background

As we move towards ending the AIDS, STI and Viral Hepatitis (VH) epidemics by 2030, there is need to ensure that the latest guidance is in place for the provision of quality services using a public health approach. WHO released global guidance in HIV, STI and VH management between 2021 and 2022 and countries are being encouraged to adopt and adapt these guidelines. Kenya is committed to ending AIDS, STIs and VH as a public health threat by the year 2030, in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is evidenced in the 2022 HVI Prevention, Care and Treatment Guidelines and in the current draft HIV, STI and VH National Strategic Plan, currently under development.

Over the last few years, great progress has been made, leading to a significant reduction in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in Kenya. Key success factors include the swift translation of scientific evidence into programs, the implementation of robust policy and strategic frameworks, and a multi-sectoral approach that engages all levels of governance, different sectors of the economy, and various stakeholders and partners.

Despite overall good progress in the response, HIV and AIDS continue to impact mortality rates, burden households, and strain national health systems in Kenya. New diseases and health threats arise, like the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as re-emerging threats posed by existing STI epidemics of syphilis and HBV. These threats, while generalized in nature in Kenya, disproportionately affect women, children, adolescent girls, and young women (AGYW), as well as key and vulnerable populations. The prevalence and incidence also greatly vary by regions and counties. As such WHO would want to support the government to develop appropriate policies and strategies and effective organization and operation of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, support and treatment programmes at both the national and county government levels.

2. Objectives of the programme

In line with the WHO’s Universal Health Care (UHC) initiative, the broader GPW13 goals, and the SDG’s, along with the 2030 communicable disease elimination targets, the global HIV, viral hepatitis and STI programme continues in 2020 to:

1. Focus on Treatment, Care and Service Delivery normative work on major HIV intervention gaps and rapidly translating new evidence and innovations into country guidance, including guidance on COVID 19;
2. Strengthened country intelligence to identify and act upon slow policy translation and implementation through high level policy dialogue with Ministries of Health and National AIDS Control Councils;

3. Provide Technical support and capacity building to countries in line with the epidemiological situation on integration of services and promoting synergies across different disease areas to achieve broader impact, sustainability and efficiency gains.

4. Duties and responsibilities

Duty Station: Nairobi

Under the overall supervision of the UCN Cluster Lead/ Immunization Focal Point, the incumbent will provide technical guidance, collaborate and cooperate with national and county authorities and partners towards the goals of ending HIV/AIDS, STI and Viral Hepatitis (VH).

Specific duties

The national HIV Care and Treatment officer will specifically execute the following tasks:

1. Assess, design, plan and implement policies/strategies that support government to develop sustainable practices in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and treatment including use of ARVs;
2. Support DTG transition among adults, adolescents and children and ensure adaptation of WHO guidelines in treatment and care; and implementation of toxicity monitoring of newly introduced ARVs including TAF, DTG and CAB LA for PreP.
3. Support provision for policy adoption and implementation of differentiated models of care in care and treatment and HIV testing to demonstrate integration efforts;
4. Support the finalization implementation and monitoring of the Kenya Framework for Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B 2022-2026 including planning for application of validation;
5. Assess and document existing integration efforts including good practices to improve access to SRH/ Family planning services for women and girls in HIV services and facilitate integration modules to foster interactions with health care providers to provide information and services for contraception and STI screening and treatment;
6. Review and contextualize the recommendations from technical working groups (TWG) such as Pediatric, Care and Treatment, TB/HIV, KP, HTS, Triple EMTCT and AHD Taskforce and incorporate, into existing guidelines and plans including the NSP and health sector plans;
7. Provide support to national HIV Care and Treatment TWG to organise and report on a consensus meeting on key recommendations contained in the 2022 HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Guidelines (national experts, key policymakers, national stakeholders and beneficiaries);
8. Support national counterparts involvement in TB/HIV related activities and implementation of the WHO key recommendations on HIV/TB and other comorbidities management
9. Contribute to updating HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs programme evaluation tools for national level
10. Advocate and coordinate with global, regional and national partners and integrate contributions from across agencies in developing and adapting and updating guidelines and tools in planning, implementing, monitoring, training and evaluating HIV/AIDS care, support and treatment programmes including training activities, resource mobilization, monitoring of drug resistance and access to antiretroviral drugs;
11. Perform any other duties as assigned regularly by the UCN Cluster Lead/IVD focal point, WHO Kenya Country Representative or its delegated authority.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Nationality: A Kenyan National
2. Education

Essential:

1. University degree in Medicine from an accredited/ recognized institute.

Desired:

1. Masters level degree related to medicine, Public Health or health-related field e.g. MPH . Masters in epidemiology etc)

2. UN and Government health experience will be an added advantage.

3. Work Experience

Essential:

1. The incumbent must have at least 5-10 years’ experience in HIV, STI and viral hepatitis prevention, treatment and care

   Desirable:

2. Experience of Kenya health system functionality at National, county and sub county levels.

3. At least 3 -5 years’ experience in the development of guidelines, protocols, and training materials with documented track record of successful completion of similar or related tasks.
4. Analytical and documentation skills, presentation of reports

5. Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies or equivalent is an added advantage;

6. Skills

7. Capacity to plan, implement and evaluate health programmes at national level

8. Ability to coordinate and manage projects and human resources, build partnerships with multiple partners in health
9. Ability to formulate clear and comprehensive strategies, plans and budgets.
10. Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to multitask and produce results under pressure
11. Excellent communication skills

12. Capacity for data analysis, computer proficiency and good writing skills

13. Use of language skills

Essential:

1. Expert knowledge of spoken and written English language is required. Intermediate knowledge of another UN language will be an asset.

2. WHO Competencies Required

3. Communicating in a credible and effective way

4. Fostering integration and teamwork
5. Producing Results
6. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
7. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences