Paediatric Treatment Failure Manager (Khayelitsha)

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Khayelitsha has been working with the Department of Health in treating HIV/TB in a primary health care facility since 1999.  For 2013, MSF’s objectives for the development of innovative strategies and interventions are as follows: adult first line ART treatment failure; nurse mentorship for ART initiation; decentralized DR-TB treatment; strengthened regiments for MDR/XDR; retention in care of horizontally infected youth; strengthened ART initiation counseling; community adherence clubs; and others. Children failing ART, vertically infected youth, and horizontally infected youth are three at risk cohorts of patients that need specifically tailored interventions to ensure treatment success, health outcomes, and long term retention in care.

Objectives of the position:

• Design and implement a paediatric treatment failure clinic in a community health centre HIV clinic, including cohort identification, high viral load flagging, support groups for caregivers and children, adherence support, and clinical management of treatment failures
• Create a paediatric advisory committee, including clinicians from academic institutions, MSF, and public sector pediatric medical officers
• Participate in advocacy efforts locally and internationally to increase primary care public sector access to improved paediatric treatment regimens, third line paediatric ART, genotypes, and adherence support
• Conduct a cohort analysis of vertically infected youth in Khayelitsha; design and pilot a clinical care package for vertically infected youth
• Conduct a cohort analysis of horizontally infected youth in Khayelitsha; design and pilot a clinical care package for horizontally infected youth

To apply, please email your CV to msfb-khayelitsha-admin@msf.org.za by 14 December 2012.

For a full description and requirements of the post please view the website of Medecins Sans Frontieres