Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) is an indigenous NGO established under the nongovernmental organization act No 24 of 2002 in 2011. THPS works in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Community Development Gender Elderly and Special Groups; Regional Administration and Local Governments (PORALG), Ministry of Health in Zanzibar and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) with a goal of ensuring accessible high-quality health care and social welfare services to all Tanzanians; through the strengthening of health and community systems.

THPS therefore is seeking competent, experienced, dynamic and qualified candidates to fill the positions listed below:

Position Title: Community Services Field Officers (13 positions)

Reports to: Regional Community Program Coordinator and Indirectly to District Manager  

Location: Tanga (10), Kigoma (2) and Pwani (1)

Purpose and Scope of Job: 

Support and coordinate community services at the district level that foster identification, linkages and retention of new PLHIV including reaching priority, vulnerable and key populations.  Provide leadership in community initiatives that support effective referrals and follow-up of clients between community settings and HFs while working with sub granted NGOs. The position includes monitoring all community outreach services, community-based ART refill for newly diagnosed and stable eligible HIV clients, follow up of clients with treatment interruptions, linkage case management initiatives, viral load and sputum sample collection, transportation and to ensure clients with high viral loads attains viral suppression. Also, coordinates linkages to other services including

MAT for people who inject drugs, and social services to victims of gender-based violence

(GBV)/violence against children (VAC). S/he will monitor the implementation of the Social and Behavioral Change Communications (SBCC), structural, gender activities and referrals and linkages to biomedical services among general, key and vulnerable populations in compliance with the overall approved work plan. S/he will play a key role in ensuring that the SBCC, structural and biomedical services are conducted according to the national guidelines, and that beneficiaries receive quality services.

Principal duties and responsibilities: 

• Work with HCPs and expert clients/volunteers to manage community outreach activities for HTS, ART refills, HVL coverage as per required standards of care to ensure treatment continuity adherence support, psychosocial support groups.
• Ensure HFs, volunteers and HCPs participating in community-based services are appropriately trained and oriented on initiatives strategies to ensure continuum of care
• Ensure all newly diagnosed clients are enrolled into HIV treatment and attached to Peer Educators/Community Outreach Workers (COWs) as ‘Wateja Marafiki’ and are known to the multidisciplinary team for treatment continuity.
• Participate in development of district level work plans for implementation of community HIV identification, linkage and retention activities.
• Ensure linkage and retention including community-based ART services are provided in line with WHO, national, donor and THPS working strategies.
• Collaborate with facility staff to coordinate activities, share data and work plans to strengthen continuum of care across community and facility interventions.
• Work closely with the existing district systems (CHACC and DACC) to establish and strengthen facility-community partnership at all levels.
• Provide technical support in best approaches for improving referrals and follow-up of clients in the community.
• Facilitate identification of static community refill points to assist priority and key populations maintain good ART adherence
• Support facility and community to establish referral and linkage system between facility and community services.
• Work with KVP led sub granted NGO to ensure all PWID are linked to MAT services
• Conduct routine site visits for technical support and improvement of performance
• To monitor progress of community-based services through, data collection, reporting and monthly/quarterly/annual quarterly meetings
• Conduct joint supportive supervision, mentorship and CMEs with RHMT/CHMT and other program staff to improve quality of adherence support provided to clients receiving HIV care and treatment.
• Support sites to establish appointment systems that include mechanisms for tracking and tracing defaulters in care and treatment setting and in the community.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required:

• Social Scientist or Nurse with degree or equivalent from recognized institutions.
• At least three years’ working experience in working with community-based programs.
• Training in advanced adherence counseling
• Ability to work independently, document best practices and write analytical reports.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Fluent in English and Swahili with good verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills especially on Ms Word, power point and excel.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should send their application cover letter one-page maximum and CV four pages maximum to recruitment@thps.or.tz by August 16, 2023 with a subject line of ‘Position’ example Medically Assisted Therapy Program Officer. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Please do not attach any certificates at this stage.  

THPS is an equal opportunity employer; women, people living with HIV/AIDS, and people living with disability are encouraged to apply.