AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Ltd./Gte. (APIN) is a non-governmental organization registered with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). APIN has built a strong partnership with the Nigerian Government, which is memorialized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Planning Commission. APIN is a leading Nigerian organization in the provision of prevention, care and treatment services to patients with HIV/AIDS and other diseases of public health significance. Its operating experience in Nigeria dates back to 2000, when the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) initiated HIV/AIDS research and prevention initiatives in Nigeria, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2004, the HSPH project started implementing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). These activities culminated in the establishment of APIN as an independent NGO in 2007, with the aim of building local capacity and sustainability of HIV/AIDS and other diseases programming in Nigeria. Presently, APIN operates as a direct implementing partner to CDC having just completed a 3-year transition from Harvard in line with the US Government’s goal of transitioning programs to local indigenous organizations. In the four years since its operations as an implementing partner of the CDC, APIN has managed a cumulative budget of more than $50m, a reflection of the growing confidence of the USG that APIN has built enough systems to operate as an independent implementing partner of US funds. In addition to the US funded activities, APIN is currently soliciting for other funding opportunities to diversify its funding base in the wider public health arena as part of its response to current health challenges and its overall sustainability plan. Apart from its contribution to evidence-based HIV prevention in the country, APIN is also one of the pioneers in the provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care in Nigeria. It currently supports the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide ARV care and treatment directly as a USG implementing partner tomore than 74,000 patients in 33 treatment clinics and 75 primary healthcare centers in nine (9) states. These clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories with capabilities for diagnosis and monitoring of HIV including CD4, viral load, DNA PCR and drug resistance monitoring (DRM). Similar giant strides have been made in prevention, systems strengthening, as well as in human and infrastructure capacity development efforts. It has a widespread network of service providers, communities, researchers and persons living with HIV and AIDS support groups in nine (9) states in Nigeria. APIN has a. purposive, exemplary and result-oriented leadership, committed and hardworking human resources and a broad-based support of collaborators in Nigeria and the United States. It essentially inherited the same dedicated team that has worked on the Harvard program in the last 6 -10 years.
- Job Type: Full Time
- Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
- Experience: 5 years
- Location: Benue
- Job Field: Medical / Healthcare
Job Task:
This position will report to the State Laboratory Lead and will assist in the planning, implementation and monitoring of laboratory services in Benue state. S/He will work with the members of the state program teams to support the delivery of quality laboratory services across all supported facilities. The person will assist in the development of guidelines, documented procedures and other tools required for effective service delivery. S/he will work with assigned facilities to ensure the optimal functionality of equipment, proper management of supplies, timely reporting of data, and overall improvement in the efficiency of entire laboratory services.
Other duties
- Assist in the development and adaptation of relevant policies and guidelines required for required to provide quality laboratory services.
- Assist in the evaluation of laboratory methods/procedures, and conduct of periodic assessment and review of activities.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of the Integrated Sample Referral Network and an efficient biosafety and infection control program across all supported healthcare facilities and communities.
- Design and implement a system for the proper documentation of all laboratory activities using the appropriate tools.
- Support and monitor QA/QC activities in all supported facilities, and ensure DTS are available and in use at all testing points.
- Ensure routine preventative maintenance is performed on all diagnostic and ancillary equipment, and provide feedback to Biomedical Engineers on equipment breakdown.
- Monitor lab commodity consumption level, ordering of laboratory supplies, and proper inventory management of required supplies.
- Conduct routine supportive supervisory visits to supported facilities and assist in building the capacity of laboratory staff.
- Support routine collection, analysis and submission of laboratory data for monitoring of program effectiveness.
- Compile, analyze and monitor trends on the functionality and optimization of all laboratory services as well as laboratory related activities.
- Support the implementation of Laboratory Continuous Quality Improvement and the deployment and institution of appropriate corrective and preventive action respectively.
- The job holder is also responsible for the functionality of all laboratory information systems and linkage to EMR.
- Prepare progress reports of laboratory activities, lab program implementation and lab quality issues.
- Perform any other official task as may be assigned by supervisor or Management
Qualifications and Experience:
- Must be a Medical laboratory Scientist or possess a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in Medical Laboratory Sciences or Biomedical Sciences. Professional certification of AMLSCN and a license to practice as a medical laboratory scientist is mandatory
- Must have a minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in implementing Public Health programs preferably in the NGO context.
- Good knowledge of laboratory management and understanding of quality management system
- Strong attention to detail and ability to learn quickly
- Ability to work alone and as part of the team
- Ability to multitask, manage time efficiently, negotiate and meet deadlines
- Highly motivated, energetic self-starter who can think and act self-sufficiently
Method of Application
Interested and qualified? Go to APIN on www.apin.org.ng to apply
