International Technician for Quality Control of Malaria Microscopy

Position           :    International Technician for Quality Control of Malaria Microscopy

Counterpart     :    Quality Control Laboratory Technicians (malaria)

Report to         :    National Malaria Control Programme Manager, Head of Communicable Disease Control Department and National Manager of Division of Global Fund

 

 

Location

 

Dili, Timor-Leste, with possibility of travelling to districts

 

 

Organization

 

Ministry of Health of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

 

 

Duration

 

1 May 2015 - 30 June 2017, contract will be renewed as per below phases depending on performance

 

 

Closing Date

 

April 12^th, 2015

 

 

Job Description

 

General roles and responsibilities:

The International Technician for Quality Control of Malaria Microscopy will play a key role in providing technical input for National Health Laboratory with coordination of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and a Malaria Technical Adviserin ensuring the quality of services and upgrade the laboratory technical skills required malaria diagnosis, quality control and research/surveillance studies.

 

This includes, but not limited to:

 

1. Assist National Health Laboratory and NMCP to ensure the quality of services and upgrade the laboratory technical skills required malaria diagnosis and quality control;
2. Facilitate and coordinate training programmes;
3. Assist and coordinate for estimation planning, distribution and utilization of logistics provided;
4. Assist to carry out research/surveillance studies;
5. Facilitate and coordinate to carry out training programmes for diagnosis and ensuring the quality of service;
6. Facilitate and coordinate for preparation of SOPs and train selected analysts to carry out Fluorescent Spot Tests for detection of G6PD deficient P. vivax patients for Primaquine treatment with coordination a Malaria Technical Adviser;
7. Guide the relevant National Health Laboratory analysts for maintenance of database on quality control of malaria microscopy/RDT of the analysts attached to health institutions and training;
8. Assist for the establishment of slide bank for malaria microscopy for training purpose;
9. Assist forecasting and buffering of RDTs, laboratory reagents and equipments and specifications and distribution plan to avoid stock out situation with coordination of a Malaria Technical Adviser; and
10. Facilitate and coordinate for implementation of Therapeutic Efficacy test for first line treatment of P.falciparum and P. vivax malaria based on the proposal developed by a Malaria Technical Adviser.

 

 

a.            From 1May 2015 to 31 March 2016

 

Specific roles and responsibilities:

 

1. Guide and assist in-charge of the laboratory (malaria) and QC lab analysts in planning of the activities to be carried out as per work plan of Global Fund NFM grant and national plan and Monitoring and Evaluation;
2. Train the newly recruited laboratory analysts attached to public health and private health institutions for understanding and development of capacity on malaria microscopy and use of RDT and relevant formats;
3. Assist existing laboratory analysts to improve capacity of diagnosis using malaria microscopy and RDT by refresher and on job training;
4. Assist for improvement of quality control of the malaria microscopy and RDT at National Health Laboratory;
5. Facilitate for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Quality control at district level by quarterly meeting with coordination of NMCP, TAs (malaria) and PSM;
6. Assist for establishment of quality control of malaria microscopy and RDT at the district level (4 out of 13 districts);
7. Facilitate and coordinate with a Malaria Technical Adviser and Director of National Health Laboratory for development of SOPs for Malaria Microscopy, RDT and Quality Control;
8. Assist for establishment of external quality assurance of blood smears with coordination of a Malaria Technical Adviser;
9. To facilitate and coordinate for maintenance of the microscopes;
10. To assist the national Quality Control lab analysts for entering QC results of analysts attached to public and private health institutions to the QC database to monitor the capacity of lab analysts and QC lab analysts;
11. To assist for the establishment of slide bank for malaria microscopy for training;
12. To facilitate for preparation of SOPs to train selected analysts to carry out Fluorescent Spot Tests and/or RDT for detection of G6PD deficient P. vivax patients for Primaquine treatment;
13. To assist forecasting and buffering of RDTs, Laboratory reagents and equipments and specifications and distribution plan to avoid stock out situation with coordination of a Malaria Technical Adviser; and
14. To facilitate and coordinate for implementation of Therapeutic Efficacy test for first line treatment of Pf and Pv uncomplicated malaria patients based on the proposal developed by a Malaria Technical Adviser and maintenance of database.

 

Specific deliverables:

 

1.     Monthly meeting and its report, including corrective actions;

2.     Training and training report – Training of the newly recruited laboratory analysts;

3.     Training programme and training report – Training of the existing laboratory analysts whose agreement rate are less than 80%;

4.     Daily, weekly and monthly report of the performance of the quality control analysts;

5.     Quarterly meeting and its report, including corrective actions;

6.     Establishment of Quality Control of malaria microscopy at 4 districts, Quality Control Report with the blood smears;

7.     Finalized Malaria Microscopy, Quality Control and RDT SOPs;

8.     External Quality Control Report, Establishment of External Quality Control with a WHO recommended laboratory;

9.     Maintenance report of the microscopes;

10. SOPs for Fluorescence Spot Test for detection of G6PD deficiency;

11. Duly maintained QC database and analysis report of the performance;

12. Slide bank and records;

13. Estimation of the RDTs, reagents and equipment use for malaria microscopy and distribution plan;

14. Therapeutic Efficacy Test report and duly filled database; and

15. Brief report to the National Malaria Control Programme and Division of Global Fund on the relevant counterparts staff‘s progress against the plan on a quarterly basis.

 

 

b.            From 1 April 2016 to 30June 2017

 

Specific roles and responsibilities:

 

1. Assist in-charge of the laboratory (malaria) and QC lab analysts in planning of the activities to be carried out as per work plan of Global Fund NFM grant and national plan and Monitoring and Evaluation;
2. Train the newly recruited laboratory analysts attached to public health and private health institutions for understanding and development of capacity on malaria microscopy and use of RDT and relevant formats;
3. Assist existing laboratory analysts to improve capacity of diagnosis using malaria microscopy and RDT by refresher and on job training;
4. Assist for improvement of quality control of the malaria microscopy and RDT at the National Health Laboratory;
5. Facilitate for Monitoring and Evaluation of the quality control at district level by quarterly meeting with coordination of NMCP, a Malaria Technical Adviser and PSM;
6. Assist for establishment of quality control of malaria microscopy and RDT at the districts level (4 out of 13 districts in 2016 and 5 out of 13 in 2017);
7. Guide and facilitate for implementation and establishment of external quality assurance of blood smears with the designated laboratory;
8. Facilitate and coordinate for maintenance of the microscopes;
9. Assist the national QC lab analysts for entering QC results of analysts attached to public and private health institutions to the QC database to monitor the capacity of lab analysts and QC lab analysts;
10. Assist for the establishment of slide bank for malaria microscopy for training;
11. Facilitate for preparation of SOPs to train selected analysts to carry out Fluorescent Spot Tests and/or RDT for detection of G6PD deficient P. vivax patients for Primaquine treatment;
12. Assist forecasting and buffering of RDTs, laboratory reagents and equipment and specifications and distribution plan to avoid stock out situation with coordination of a Malaria Technical Adviser; and
13. Facilitate and coordinate for implementation of Therapeutic Efficacy test for first line treatment of Pf and Pv malaria base on the proposal developed by a Malaria Technical Adviser and maintenance of database.

 

Specific deliverables:

 

1.     Monthly meeting and its report, including corrective actions;

2.     Training and training report – Training of the newly recruited laboratory analysts;

3.     Training programme and training report – Training of the existing laboratory analysts whose agreement rate are less than 80%;

4.     Daily, weekly and monthly report of the performance of the quality control analysts;

5.     Quarterly meeting and its report, including corrective actions;

6.     Establishment of Quality Control of malaria microscopy at 4 districts, Quality Control Report with the blood smears;

7.     Finalized Malaria Microscopy, Quality Control and RDT SOPs;

8.     External Quality Control Report, Establishment of External Quality Control with a WHO recommended laboratory;

9.     Maintenance report of the microscopes;

10. SOPs for Fluorescence Spot Test for detection of G6PD deficiency;

11. Duly maintained QC database and analysis report of the performance

12. Slide bank and records;

13. Estimation of the RDTs, reagents and equipment use for malaria microscopy and distribution plan;

14. Therapeutic Efficacy Test report and duly filled database;

15. At the end of Q10 the in-charge of the Quality Control laboratory analyst will be able to carry out the duties without assistance of the TA; and

16. Brief report to the National Malaria Control Programme and Division of Global Fund on the relevant counterparts staff‘s progress against the plan on a quarterly basis.

 

 

Qualification

 

·         First university degree in Medical Laboratory Science or malaria microscopy and other related medical laboratory techniques from a recognized university

·         Advanced degree (masters level or above) in related field is preferred

 

 

 

Experience

 

·         At least 10 years of experience in:

o    Quality control of malaria microscopy

o    Preparation of slide bank for malaria parasites

o    G6PD deficiency detection laboratory techniques

·         Experience in implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy test for first line treatment of Pf and Pv malaria

·         Experience in working in malaria endemic countries

·         Experience in working in Southeast Asia countries is an asset

 

 

Core competencies

 

·         Demonstrating ability to work as a member of a team and to maintain working relationships in a multicultural environment

·         Demonstrating accountability and commitment

·         Communicating effectively

·         Having high flexibility and patience in difficult situation

·         Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in developing capacities of national staff

 

 

Language

 

·                     Excellent knowledge of English is required

·                     Good working knowledge of one of the following languages is an asset:

o    Tetum;

o    Bahasa Indonesia; or

o    Portuguese

 

 

How to apply

 

Email addresses to receive application:

To         : hr_dgf@mohcdc.gov.tl

Copy     : ninatelma@mohcdc.gov.tl

 

The application must contain the following:

1.             Cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements for the post and relevant experiences

2.             Most recent resume/CV

3.             Expected Gross Salary in US Dollar

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within one week of the closing date.