Primary Counsellors (Mpilo and Parirenyatwa Centres of Excellence): AHF Zimbabwe
Deadline: 31 August 2018
Background
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is an international humanitarian organization operating in Zimbabwe. The organization works with Ministry of Health and Child Care to create Centres of Excellence (COE) for HIV prevention, treatment and care for people living with HIV&AIDS. AHF is looking for Primary Counsellors to fill positions that have arisen at the Centres – Mpilo Hospital (Bulawayo) x2 primary counsellors and Parirenyatwa Hospital (Harare) x 2 primary counsellors. The successful candidates will be expected to provide HIV testing services, facilitating linkage, demand creation for HIV testing among other responsibilities. The primary counsellors will work under the direct supervision of a senior counsellor/prevention officer at Parirenyatwa COE and at Mpilo COE respectively
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provides pre and post HIV confidential counseling and testing, to all patients willing to have the HIV test done; Performs the rapid HIV testing on all clients that have consented to testing using the recommended algorithm; Encourages and support patients that test positive, helping them to cope with the new diagnosis; Participates in Rapid HIV testing program initiatives and outreaches; Acts as (by facilitating) a linkage between HIV diagnosis, care, support and treatment; Facilitate group test counseling/ education in rapid testing campaigns to ensure maximum client coverage; Ensuring that condom dispensers are replenished at the sites; Facilitate education on condom use including condom demonstration; Ensuring that HIV IEC materials are available on testing sites; Other duties may be assigned.
Ongoing adherence counseling duties include
Collaborate with other health care professionals (doctor, nurse, social worker, community health care worker, home-based caregiver, and psychologist) in maintaining treatment protocol; Provide direct and comprehensive primary, preventive and psychosocial care to patients; Teach and counsel patients & family on disease prevention and staying healthy; Assist patients with adherence counseling and document the session in counseling form; Provide ongoing psychosocial counseling to clients attending the clinic; Assist with the reading and interpretation of the CD4 count results to clients; Maintain filing system for all client records including psychosocial forms, laboratory results and medical records
Education and/or Experience
Certificate in HIV Rapid Testing OR Certificate in HIV Testing and Counseling; One-year experience in related field
Other Skills and Abilities
Sensitivity to patient population and issues surrounding HIV/AIDS; Strong interpersonal skills; Knowledge of Database software and Word Processing software; Ability to facilitate training and communicate well with clients and staff members; Ability to plan, organize, and manage work on an independent basis; Knowledge in applying quality assurance principles, legal aspects and standards governing psychosocial practitioners
To apply
Interested candidates should send their applications to: [email protected] with a subject line Primary Counsellor AHF Zimbabwe. Candidates should indicate the preferred Centre – Mpilo or Parirenyatwa. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.