HIV/AIDS: IRIN/PlusNews weekly news and analysis round-up Issue 515 for 10 December 2010
JOHANNESBURG, 10 December 2010 (PlusNews) - CONTENTS:
AFRICA: Getting men talking about condoms
HEALTH: WHO approves new rapid TB test
ETHIOPIA: HIV risk in a booming construction industry
AFRICA: Risky sex does not equal HIV risk - study
AFRICA: Mobile phones for health
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. HIV Capacity Building Partners Summit, 16 – 18 March 2011 - Nairobi, Kenya
2. HIV Southern Africa, a new virtual community
VACANCIES
1. Senior TB Laboratory Expert, Management Sciences for Health - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2. Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programmes (ICAP) - Kisumu and Machakos, Kenya
AFRICA: Getting men talking about condoms
“Why, if condoms are available, is AIDS still spreading in Africa?” asks Elkana Ong’esa, an elderly Kenyan man in the new documentary, Protection: Men and condoms in the time of HIV and AIDS.
full report
HEALTH: WHO approves new rapid TB test
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed a new rapid test for tuberculosis that could save millions of lives through early diagnosis of the disease. TB killed an estimated 1.7 million people globally in 2009.
full report
ETHIOPIA: HIV risk in a booming construction industry
Everywhere in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, modern buildings are popping up and wide roads are being built. The country's booming construction sector is attracting thousands of labourers, and government officials are increasingly recognizing the need to target these workers with HIV prevention services.
full report
AFRICA: Risky sex does not equal HIV risk - study
Zimbabwean women reported significantly less risky sexual behaviour than their counterparts in Tanzania, despite being almost four times more likely to be HIV-infected, a comparative study has found.
full report
AFRICA: Mobile phones for health
Some 80 health professionals and telecom operators are meeting in the Ghanaian capital Accra to explore ways to use mobile phones for better healthcare delivery.
full report
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. HIV Capacity Building Partners Summit, 16 – 18 March 2011 - Nairobi, Kenya
The Summit will take stock of progress, achievements and lessons in HIV capacity building and share best practices, innovations and lessons in critical areas affecting capacity building for effective HIV responses in the region. It will further build consensus on a joint plan of action to secure a medium to long term policy and programme action.
For more information, go to: www.hivcapacityforum.org
2. HIV Southern Africa, a new virtual community
HIV Southern Africa is a new virtual community of health workers, development programmers, activists and advocates focused on accelerating HIV prevention in southern Africa.
A collaborative effort of SAfAIDS, UNAIDS, PSI, Soul City, AIDSPortal, K4Health and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the site is a platform for sharing ideas, best practices, knowledge and experience on HIV prevention in the southern African region.
To view the site, go to: www.hivsouthernafrica.info
VACANCIES
1. Senior TB Laboratory Expert, Management Sciences for Health - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Responsibilities:
- Develop close working relationships with the Ethiopian Health & Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) and other stakeholders that have responsibility for strengthening and improving TB microscopy capacity nationally
- Work with ENHRI and the Regional Laboratories to assist in the Training-of-Trainers programme for TB microscopy
- Coordinate with Regional Reference Laboratories and Hospital laboratories in the project zones to ensure that laboratory personnel are trained on the revised TB laboratory standards and support health centres to achieve these standards during supportive supervision visits
- Provide support to labs in the implementation of an external quality assurance system for health centre TB laboratories
- Develop/strengthen innovative protocols for sputum transportation from the community to health centre laboratories in a safe and secure way to ensure viability of samples, timely testing in labs and prompt notification of results
- Work with EHNRI in TB lab commodities specifications, procurement and inventory management implementation
- Work with ENHRI to scale up the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures for TB microscopy and the Quality Assurance Guidelines for TB lab diagnosis
- Participate in supportive supervision and on-site mentorship/coaching of health facility lab staff
- Ensure that all supported laboratories implement and follow laboratory safety guidelines to ensure the safety of staff, patients and the public
- Ensure that the standard Ethiopian and appropriate TB Laboratory Information System (TB lab register) is employed at all microscopy sites
Requirements:
- Degree in clinical laboratory from accredited college or university; Master’s Degree in a laboratory-related field and experience in TB diagnostics are also desired
- At least 10 years of experience of each of the following areas:
a. Implementing laboratory components of international public health programmes; b. Providing technical leadership/support to regional and peripheral laboratories; c. Interacting with donors, implementing partners and host country governments
- Past experience with USAID
- Excellent communication, supervisory and interpersonal skills, demonstrated leadership, and the ability to work collaboratively across technical disciplines
- Fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in Amharic, a plus
- Willingness to locate in Addis Ababa and to travel frequently within Ethiopia required
2. Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programmes (ICAP) - Kisumu and Machakos, Kenya
Responsibilities:
- Provide technical support in the planning for the design and implementation of ME activities required for ICAP HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes in Kenya
- Develop, implement, and establish systematic monthly reporting procedures for ME for patient monitoring and to assess programmatic progress
- Assist in the development of ME tools including clinical and patient tracing forms, medication tracking forms
- Provide technical assistance to health care facilities including review of performance and quality of service delivery, on-the-job mentoring for health workers, and evaluation and use of strategic information
Requirements:
- Advanced degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, international health, or related discipline
- At least 8 years of professional experience in the design, implementation and management of health monitoring and evaluation systems, with at least five years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of HIV programmes
- Strong data management and analysis skills
Application deadline: 10 January
To apply, email current CV, telephone number and referees to the HR and Administration Manager, ICAP Kenya at [email protected]
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