About Us:
The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is an international non-profit organization which is a partnership of infectious diseases and public health specialists. The overall objective of the IDI is to strengthen health systems with strong emphasis on Infectious Diseases, through Research and Capacity Development. IDI has five operational areas through which it works to achieve its mission: Prevention, Care and Treatment; Training, Research and Laboratory services (provided through a partnership with the Makerere University – John Hopkins University Core Lab) and Outreach.
About USAID MAPD Program:
The Malaria Action Program for Districts (MAPD) is a five-year project funded by U.S Agency for International Development (USAID)/PMI. The project aims to prevent and control Malaria illnesses and deaths in order to minimize the social-economic effects of the disease among the overall population of Uganda especially in children under-5 years of age.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
· Offer support to districts in building and maintaining capacity and systems for accurate malaria laboratory diagnosis in all supported districts;
· Mentor and train district trainers on malaria laboratory diagnosis;
· Work closely with district trainers to train lower level laboratory personnel on malaria laboratory diagnosis;
· Support districts to implement external quality assurance and quality control for malaria diagnosis;
· Work in close collaboration with other MAPD technical experts, RPMT staff and district based resource persons, conduct integrated support supervisions in all facilities in MAPD-supported districts;
· Link with the diagnostic specialists on the regional performance monitoring team (RPMT) based in the region where the project will be implemented;
· Actively participate in planning meetings and provide technical support to field staff;
· Coordinate trainings for laboratory staff in the region assigned;
· Write activity and progress reports;
· Participate in grant writing exercises;
· Attend laboratory meetings and relevant trainings with Ministry of health and implementing partners;
· Develop and maintain regular channels of communication with stakeholders in the region; and
· Perform any other duties assigned by the project management team.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The applicants for the USAID MAPD Laboratory Technologist jobs must hold Degrees in Medical Laboratory Science from a recognized institution;
· Post graduate training in public health or health services management is an added advantage;
· Must be registered with the Allied Health Practitioners’ Council;
· Previous experience of not less than three years in malaria lab diagnosis using microscopy and RDTS;
· Prior exposure and experience in building capacity of lab personnel in malaria lab diagnosis;
· Prior participation in either a WHO malaria microscopy certification course or Malaria Alert Centre Kisumu malaria microscopy course is an added advantage;
· Previous experience in implementing malaria microscopy, external quality control and assurance;
· Must have a valid practicing annual license;
· Experience working in a laboratory management position is an added advantage; and
· Extensive experience working in public health laboratory service delivery in Uganda with knowledge of health care delivery systems and structures in Uganda.
· High level of accuracy in preparation, reading and interpreting of malaria blood slides;
· Training and mentoring skills in malaria lab diagnosis;
· Presentation skills;
· Computer literacy: competency with Microsoft Office, internet and email systems;
· Report writing skills;
· Leadership skills;
· Excellent interpersonal, analytic, facilitation, verbal communication and writing skills; and
· Fluency in written and spoken English is essential, and ability to work in other local languages is an added advantage.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to hand deliver their application letters with detailed CVs, naming at least two professional referees, to:
The Manager, Human Resources,
Infectious Diseases Institute,
P. O. Box 22418, Kampala. Uganda
Email to: hr@idi.co.ug
Deadline: Tuesday, 8th November 2016.