Job Opportunities at Health Systems Trust

Description

• The Health Systems Trust (HST) is committed to an equitable healthcare system that recognises basic socio-economic needs as an important determinant of health outcomes.
• We are implementing the GlobalVAX Project, which is an initiative for global vaccine access, to improve the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in six sub-districts in KwaZulu-Natal (one sub-district in uMgungundlovu District and five sub-districts in Zululand District), by supporting the District Department of Health in providing direct COVID-19 vaccine services.
• HST seeks to appoint 14 Vaccine Ambassadors ? four in uMgungundlovu District and 10 in Zululand.
• These incumbents will mobilise local community members to access COVID-19 vaccinations and health services, link them to care, liaise with the local Ward Councillors and clinic committees for entry points, and support the project team in fulfilling its service profile. These are fixed-term contract positions, renewable based on continuation of funding.

Key Responsibilities

•  Support the mobilisation of project participant clients in the supported area for COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as community engagement for COVID-19 vaccine support/mobilisation.  
• Provide health education to clients on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
•  Liaise with the Ward Councillors and clinic committee members to identify community entry points.
•  Liaise with the community for buy-in and programme support.
•  Distribute Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials in the facilities and communities.  
• Provide health education on and marketing of the COVID-19 vaccines in facility waiting areas.  
• Organise and facilitate health promotion programmes for the community in line with the project’s service profile.
•  Compile basic reports from data collected during project-related mobilisation activities.

Key Attributes

•  Ability to work individually with minimal supervision as well as in a team  Good problem-solving skills  Local residence and knowledge of local routes  Orientation in health mobilisation and health promotion.

Education Required

• Matric

Qualification Required

•  A Grade 12/Matric Certificate or equivalent ABET qualification
•  A valid driver’s licence  
• Certified advanced driving skills would be an added advantage.

Experience Required

•  A minimum of five years’ driving experience would be an advantage.
•  A clean driving record
•  Experience in working for a health service organisation  
• Communications skills – ability to read and write, and verbal fluency, in English; basic report writing skills
•  Collaboration and co-ordination abilities

Remuneration

• A salary package commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications and in line with HST’s job grading system will be offered.

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Description

• The Health Systems Trust (HST) wishes to appoint 14 Enrolled Nurses to support the District Departments of Health in providing support for direct HIV and TB services in uMgungundlovu District (four) and Zululand Districts (10), KwaZulu-Natal Province, to support the District Departments of Health as part of the Global VAX Project. This project is implemented to roll out the Global VAX programme which is an ‘Initiative for Global Vaccine Access’ to improve uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in six sub-districts in KwaZulu-Natal. The project will be layered on an existing HIV/TB footprint for accelerated community entry, and the vaccine teams will partner with PEPFAR-funded community-based HIV and TB service providers to reduce stigma, increase uptake, and widen the vaccine education scope, with specific access for those most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. The project works closely with the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure that demand-creation activities are focused on the demographic groups with the greatest gap to vaccine target. The project is implemented in two of HST’s PEPFAR-supported districts, i.e. Zululand and uMgungundlovu, covering five sub-districts in Zululand and one sub-district in uMgungundlovu. The key project objectives are to improve awareness and demand creation for vaccine services in the selected sub-districts, and to strengthen integration of vaccination services at facility level through provision of technical assistance and vaccine service delivery by community-based mobile health teams. The target for Mpofana Sub-district in uMgungundlovu is 4 500 vaccinations, and the target for Zululand is 22 500 vaccinations (4 500 per sub-district) – a total of 27 000 patients. The Enrolled Nurses (ENs) will be responsible for supporting the HIV and TB programme by co-ordinating and mapping outreach services for mobilisation and health education strategies. Acting as community liaison officers for outreach activities, the ENs will work closely with structures of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to target hard-to-reach and at-risk populations (males, adolescents), and will navigate clients through referral processes to ensure their linkage to treatment and continuation of care. The ENs will also support linkages between facility and community-based HIV Testing Services (HTS), working closely with the Outreach Teams. These are fixed-term contract positions, renewable based on availability of funding.

Key Responsibilities

•  Strengthening linkages between the community and facilities in collaboration with HST and DoH personnel.  
• Community mobilisation for vaccination programmes, specifically COVID-19.  
• Marketing the COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign, targeting vulnerable groups and people with comorbidities, for improved public health in the community.  
• Promoting COVID-19 vaccination, integrated with HIV testing and treatment initiatives in communities.  
• Working collaboratively with community structures, Operation Sukuma Sakhe War Rooms and Ward Councillors to market services in the communities.
•  Actively linking and referring clients with adverse events to the nearest facilities.  Implementing a patient referral system.
•  Serving as a point of contact and information base between the community and the facility.
•  Ensuring that vaccination is offered to all HIV-positive patients in care at community level.
•  Offering HTS and HIV self-screening to community members in parallel with vaccine services in order to improve case-finding and same-day treatment initiation through the ‘handshake’ approach.
•  Supporting quality improvement processes to improve integration of COVID-19 as an endemic disease in health promotion, prevention and care and treatment programmes.  
• Participating in data analysis (community targets, tracer indicators, demand creation, integration cascades).
•  Submitting daily, weekly and monthly data reports to the facility.
•  Participating in the facility’s bi-weekly and monthly review meetings.

Key Attributes

•  A strong work ethic and ability to work in a pressurised environment  
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders  
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and be deadline-driven
•  Ability to work after hours, which may include weekends from time to time.

Education Required

• Higher Certificate

Qualification Required

•  Certification as an Enrolled Nurse is essential  Current registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is essential.

Experience Required

•  Three to five years’ experience in community-based health services
•  Two years’ experience in HIV and TB screening, counselling, testing and linkage services, and in implementation of the Welcome Back strategy
•  Good communication skills and ability to communicate in English, isiZulu and/or another South African language
•  Work experience in HIV and TB programme implementation  
• Good understanding of South Africa’s national and provincial public health policies  Solid experience in and knowledge of partnering with multiple stakeholders  
• Extensive experience with patient tracking (via telephone and in person through home visits)  
• Computer literacy and competence in Microsoft software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)  Knowledge of health promotion strategies, demand-creation and HIV strategies, including the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, and TB management protocols
•  Previous work experience in NGOs or funded programmes will be an advantage.

Remuneration

• A salary package commensurate with the successful candidates’ qualifications and experience, and in line with HST’s Job Grading System, will be offered.