National Consultant - HIV Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission
(WCO, New Delhi)
1. POSITION VACANT: National Consultant – HIV Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission; (NC- HPPTCT), WHO, WCO, New Delhi
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) mandate revolves around six core functions:
(1) Providing leadership on global health matters;
(2) Shaping the health research agenda;
(3) Setting norms and standards;
(4) Articulating evidence-based policy options;
(5) Providing technical support to countries; and
(6) Monitoring and assessing health trends.
The WHO Country Office in India (WCO-India) provides wide-ranging policy inputs and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), in the area of health and health systems, to support a range of health initiatives that include National Rural Health Mission, Universal Coverage, Polio Surveillance, TB Control, HIV/AIDS, Roll Back Malaria, Tobacco Free Initiative, Health Financing, Trade Agreements and Health, Non-communicable Diseases, Environment and Health etc.
WCO-India wishes to hire senior public health professionals, to augment its team of national managers, leading the above initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for outstanding public health professionals, to get meaningfully engaged with the formulation and implementation of national health strategy and policy, in cutting-edge areas.
For more information please visit, http://whoindia.org/
3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:
Job Purpose:
India has committed to adopting the revised 2010 WHO Global guidelines on antiretroviral treatment, PPTCT and pediatric HIV. The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), plans to implement the revised PMTCT regimens and new guidelines, initially in 40 districts using the district-systems approach with gradual scale-up. WHO provides technical assistance and guidance on the operational framework for PPTCT including:
(1) Technical and operational guidelines;
(2) Advocacy of the paradigm shift for the continuum of mother-child care for ART, PPTCT and care of HIV exposed infants and children;
(3) Development and updating of guidelines and strategies to enhance integrated approaches/models for PPTCT and better maternal-child care, including newer testing guidelines and strategies which improve coverage of good quality PPTCT services;
(4) Development and supporting the roll-out of new PPTCT training modules as an integrated districts systems approach;
(5) Capacity building and establishing mentoring/ supportive supervisory capacities at state and regional institutions;
(6) Monitoring and evaluation.
Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to India (WR-I) and direct supervision and technical guidance of the Medical Officer (HIV/AIDS) at the WHO India Country Office, the NC – HPPTCT, works as a team member, performing her/his responsibilities independently within the framework of national policies and guidelines defined in WHO programme and policy documents with necessary clarifications from WR India, as required. S/he will discharge the following responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
(1) Providing technical assistance and support to the national AIDS control programme in implementation of the above operational framework to rollout the new PPTCT continuum of care for mother and child including ART, ARV prophylaxis for mother-child and care of the HIV exposed infant;
(2) Providing technical support in strengthening national and regional capacity in implementing ART and PPTCT as part of the continuum of care for mother and child, in coherence with other programmes such as the MCH, PPTCT and RNTCP as well as the National Rural Health Mission;
(3) Advocating and coordinating with stakeholders including the UN family, developmental partners, international and national NGOs, private sector, academic institutions, affected communities etc. in supporting the national rollout of the new PPTCT operational framework;
(4) Providing technical support for establishing pharmacovigilance mechanisms for the use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnancy;
(5) Providing technical support for national efforts for quality assurance and accreditation of HIV/AIDS care and treatment service delivery points and training institutions in the public, voluntary and private sector;
(6) Providing technical assistance for monitoring, evaluation and documentation of the lessons learned from the rollout of the revised PPTCT regimens;
(7) Identifying and facilitating priority areas for operational research on HIV prevention, care and treatment as applied to the area of PPTCT;
(8) Providing technical support for resource mobilization for national government and WHO in the area of PPTCT to support strengthening of the HIV continuum of care for mother and child;
(9) Undertaking any other duties/responsibilities as assigned by WR India from time to time.
4. QUALIFICATIONS:
(1) Applicants must have a Degree in Medicine from a reputed institute
(2) A postgraduate degree or diploma in public health is desirable.
5. EXPERIENCE:
Minimum three years of experience in:
(1) Clinical service provision in ART and HIV/AIDS clinical management;
(2) HIV/AIDS/TB program management at the state and/or national level;
(3) Monitoring and evaluation of an HIV programme, at the state and/or national level;
(4) Training experience for health care providers in clinical management is desirable.
6. SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:
(1) Good knowledge of the functioning and administration of government institutions;
(2) Experience with WHO at regional or national level will be an advantage;
(3) Excellent knowledge of spoken/ written English and local language/ (Hindi).
7. COMPENSATION OFFERED:
Approximate initial taxable remuneration for the vacancy shall be INR 113,500/- pm.
8. LOCATION:
New Delhi
9. REFERENCE:
NC-HPPTCT
10. CONTACT INFORMATION:
The Administrative Officer
Office of the WHO Representative to India
Room No.537,"A" Wing
Nirman Bhavan
Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi- 110011
Email: nc-hpptct@whoindia.org
11. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:
Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to submit a personal history form (downloadable from www.whoindia.org), as well as a brief resume, providing details of relevant experience/ skills and other qualifications. Applications must be submitted to the above email id, by or before September 7, 2011, accompanied by a cover letter, giving reasons in support of the candidate’s suitability for the position.
NOTES:
WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or other tobacco users.
THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO LOCAL RECRUITMENT AND WILL BE FILLED BY PERSONS FROM WITHIN INDIA.
Applications from women are encouraged.
Only candidates qualifying for interviews shall be corresponded with further.