Laboratory Technician – Afder Zone, Ethiopia

MISSION AND MAIN ACTIVITIES

Planning, organizing and carrying out laboratory activities in MoH supported facilities according to national and ALIMA protocols, security measures and hygiene standards, in order to support the medical team in the diagnosis of patients’ diseases and ensure safety and security of transfusion .

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Participating in the project planning and follow-up and reviewing the laboratory plan, when necessary, in order to support ALIMA’s medical activities.
• Work closely with MOH staff at Health posts, Health center, and hospital level. Facilitate mobile health and nutrition activities through sample specimen collection like; blood drawing of patients for laboratory investigations. Provide technical assistance for MHNT and MoH staff. Participate in capacity building training and health education sessions.
• Ensuring the compliance of International and ALIMA hygiene and safety protocols, both individually and collectively as well as informing staff of existing biological risks.
• In collaboration with MoH Lab responsible, and the hospital management team, putting in place blood transfusion activities: collection, qualification, hemovigilance. Ensuring the transfusion safety and security and the correct management of blood banks.
• In collaboration with the MoH lab supervisor, participate in disease surveillance , organize correct sample collection, storage/conservation  and transportation.
• In collaboration with MoH lab Responsible and staff, performing laboratory tests and carrying out sample collection (serology, hematology, biochemistry, bacteriology, parasitology …) in accordance with prescriptions as well as ensuring that quality control tests are carried out regularly. Informing the doctor of the results of the tests and keeping a record of the analysis with data from patients.
• Ensuring laboratory staff maintain proper management (cleaning, maintenance, arranging) of all laboratory working space and equipment , correct waste management and IPC measures in the laboratory and the adequate supply of needed equipment and material in order to prevent stock-outs.
• In cooperation with the MoH laboratory Responsible, ensuring proper management (cleaning, maintenance, arranging) of all laboratory equipment and the adequate supply of needed equipment and material in order to prevent stock-outs. This includes being responsible for all required automatic instrument calibration.
• In cooperation with the logistics department, ensuring that cold chain is properly maintained in Laboratory areas for both samples and reagents.
• With collaboration of MoH laboratory Responsible, ensuring proper registration and needs of all lab related activities and implementing a correct use of the associated management tool in order to have a proper recording of laboratory activities.
• Supervising, in close coordination with the MOH Lab responsible and HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, coaching, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required
• Ensuring that all staff using medical devices in the laboratory are qualified and trained. Ensuring cleaning and preventive maintenance tasks are performed according to the protocols. Reporting any malfunction of laboratory devices to the project biomedical service.
• Producing regular reports on the testing and on any issues / problems related to laboratory personnel and / or the material used.
• Ensuring proper and timely data collection from people assigned to and assure analysis  of monthly data for laboratory  activities under his/her responsibility. Prepares the monthly lab sitrep. Reviewing all labo / transfusion  incident reports and intervenes when necessary.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Training / Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology or a related discipline.

Experiences:

• Minimum three (3) years working experience. Experience for NGOs is an advantage.
• Experience in clinical setups including blood transfusion/ blood bank management is mandatory.
• Solid technical skill on laboratory sample collection, sample testing and interpretation; and use of automates
• Proven training facilitation experience and skills,
• Good awareness of the laboratory role in health systems, optimal use of resources for quality and efficient services delivery.

Skills: 

• Ability to work independently and quickly take up a position
• Collaborative attitude with colleagues, work team and external partners
• Excellent organizational skills and multi-tasking ability
• Ability to work with a broad spectrum of people from different cultural backgrounds
• Excellent communication skills.
• Flexible with ability to cope with stressful situations and challenging conditions with limited resources.
• Analytical skills and critical thinking
• Sense of organization and rigor
• Ability to adapt, diplomacy and patience
• Strong listening skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint
• Ability to live and work in localities often far from capitals, located in rural areas and often poorly covered in terms of security, medical, social and leisure.

Languages:

• English Speaking, reading and writing, mandatory.
• Knowledge of a local language (Somali and Oromo) is an asset