Laboratory Technician (3 Positions)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization that provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2 million patients in 46 countries globally, 14 of these countries being in Africa, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide. As we create and implement unparalleled programs in new communities globally, we expand the delivery of healthcare and influence over strategies with the sole aim of saving more lives.

Currently, AHF-Ethiopia is supporting 17 high-load public health facilities, one NGO, and one AHF-owned clinic providing standardized comprehensive HIV care and prevention service for more than 61,000 clients in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama Regions. Besides, we provide free HIV testing and counseling services to More Than 100,000 individuals every year.

To deliver the said services effectively and efficiently, AHF-Ethiopia wishes to recruit a dynamic, skilled, committed, self-driven, and result-oriented professionals to fill required positions.

Objective:

AHF-Ethiopia is currently working with MoH, RHB and partners hand in hand in comprehensive and client centered HIV Prevention, care and treatment services. To continue supporting the MoH and RHB in HIV prevention, testing, treatment, linkage, and retention, qualified candidate with diverse experience is highly required.

Duty station and Number of Vacancy

1. St Paul’s Hospital Millenium Medical College: One (1)
2. Adama Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Medical College: One (1)
3. Ambo General Hospital: One (1)

 

Position Summary:

AHF–Ethiopia is supporting the Comprehensive HIV prevention and care and treatment service at St Paul’s Hospital Millenium Medical College, Adama Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Medical College, Ambo General Hospital. As part of improving the quality of service at the ART clinics, AHF is looking for competent Laboratory Technicians to engage in the direct care provision at the ART laboratory unit and help the facilities’ laboratories provide high quality services.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Under the leadership of Regional Clinical Mentor and Facility Laboratory Team, The Laboratory Technician will participate in the direct care provision of the ART Laboratory: Specimen collection, processing and analysis of biological specimens including bacteriology, immunology, chemistry, hematology, parasitological, serology, urinalysis… and deliver result as per the set time frame (i.e. TAT)
• Review the overall service provision of the lab unit at supported health facility and develop a mechanism to improve the quality service provision
• Develop continuous quality improvement plan for the facilities periodically and submit for approval and implementation and send status report to supervisor.
• Prepare a performance indicator in collaboration with the facility unit staff that shall be followed on a regular basis.
• Ensure the lab unit HIV lab monitoring are up to the national standard with their quality and timing.
• In collaboration with the facility unit staff, prepare an updated standard operating procedure (SOP), manuals, and job aids for all the lab tests done in supported lab unit.
• Support and strengthen the lab logistics system in the supported unit and provide requisite guidance to the Unit head.
• In collaboration with the Lab Services Coordinator, ensure the implementation of Laboratory Quality Management System in the clinic: internal quality control, preventative maintenance (e.g. microscope and lab machines), documentation for specific activities, work flow, list of lab test (categorized as facility based and referred tests) with their TAT, trouble shooting, etc
• Facilitate the establishment of credit service agreement with external service provider and monitor implementation, review and confirm the validity of payment request from external credit Laboratory service providers
• Review periodically for the implementation of the recommendations and feedback suggested by external supervisors.
• Participate in the preparation and/or adaptation of standard registration books/ logs for all lab activities and ensure their proper utilization
• Attend AHF sponsored online CME courses and facilitate the participation of facility units’ staff to attend these courses
• Ensure the service provided at the lab unit is documented in the appropriate register and reported timely.
• Develop mechanism to utilize the data for service improvement
• Develop a proper inventory system to Ensures all laboratory supplies are available in adequate quantity for the clinic
• Work closely with the clinical team as to the quality of test result and give feedback/ update as necessary
• Responsible for the proper handling of laboratory equipment, supplies and laboratory space in orderly and neat manner
• Participate in preparing annual/ quarterly/ monthly plan for all lab services (i.e. activity plan and service targets), monitor their implementations & submit report per the set time frame
• Facilitate the referral lab investigation for tests which are not available in clinic and monitor its implementation
• Provide supportive supervision and coaching to other laboratory staff (temporary or outreach) as deemed necessary
• Work with the supervisor and ART lab unit head/staffs to establish a good and conducive working environment for AHF support.
• Prepare a weekly activity plan for the unit and submit short summary report at the end of the week to the supervisor.
• Execute activities that are planned by the ART lab unit and evaluated to have implication for the quality of service of the unit after having approval from the AHF supervisor
• Carry out additional job-related tasks given by the Regional Clinical Mentor or National Medical Director

Education, Qualification, and Experience:

• Minimum of Bachler of Science (BSC) in Medical Laboratory Technology from a recognized institution; having a higher qualification or other health related field is an added advantage
• At least three years of experience related to HIV laboratory services and all other diagnostic laboratory services of care and treatment of HIV/AIDS
• Knowledge and skills in laboratory techniques such as parasitology, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and biochemistry.
• Basic and/or refresher training in the last 5 yrs on HIV laboratory services is a necessity: ART monitoring, Quality ART lab service, Rapid HIV Testing on recent kit, Recency Testing, CD4 Testing at PIMA/FASC Presto or VISITECT, Viral Load determination, AFB microscopy, GeneXpert for MDRTB.
• Training and Experience in ART Lab data Management: Red CAP, specimen referral for viral load
• Proficient in basic computer programs including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet skills, and knowledge of databases
• Excellent written, verbal and inter-personal communication skills with good command of English & Amharic languages; Expert level skills in speaking Oromiffa language required for Adama & Ambo posts
• Effective time management and meeting deadlines maintaining quality
• Must be highly organized and demonstrate multi-tasking ability
• Flexible, proactive and able to organize work independently with minimum supervision
• Excellent interpersonal interaction skills and keen to work with good team spirit