Management and Development for Health (MDH) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose primary aim is to contribute to addressing the public health priorities of Tanzania and the world at large. The priorities include: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis; Reproductive, Maternal, New-born and Child health (RMNCH), Nutrition; Non-Communicable Diseases of public health significance; as well as Health System Strengthening. MDH strongly believes in and works in partnership with various local and global institutions, Ministry of Health (MOH); President’s Office Regional Authorities and Local Government (PORALG); donor agencies; academic and non-academic institutions; implementing partners; civil society, community-based and faith-based organizations and others.
MDH has been awarded a 5-year (October 2023 – Sep 2028) cooperative agreement (COAG) to implement the Laboratory for Health project (Lab4Health) ‘’Strengthening the Quality, Accessibility, and Sustainability of the National Health Laboratory System’’ in the United Republic of Tanzania, funded by United States Government President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (USG-PEPFAR), through US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-Tanzania). In this regard MDH seeks to recruit qualified individuals to fill the following vacancies.
Position Title: Antimicrobial Resistance and Surveillance Officer
Location: Dar es Salaam
Reports To: Laboratory Project Manager
Position Summary:
Antimicrobial Resistance and Surveillance Officer will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and monitoring systems in the human and animal health sectors. She/he will work closely with the Epidemiology unit, HIV drug resistance laboratories, National Public Health Laboratories, Zonal Laboratories and Implementing Partners to scale up capacity in monitoring and preventing the spread of resistance to antiretrovirals, antibiotics and antifungals. She/he will also provide technical, logistical and administrative assistance to improve performance of the HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and Public Health Laboratories on detection and monitoring of AMR in line with National and International standards.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Facilitate the development and implementation of guidelines and tools to increase the ability of the laboratory to detect, confirm, and respond to outbreaks of diseases in line with the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system and International Health Regulations (IHR).
- Promote collaboration between human and animal health laboratories in surveillance of antimicrobials resistance with One Health approach. …
- Provide technical assistance in analysis, interpretation, and utilization of AMR surveillance data
- Support strengthening of biosafety and biosecurity measures to laboratory personnel in human, animal and environmental health sectors
- To provide technical support to the government in establishing/strengthening biosafety and biosecurity risk management system in human and animal health facilities at regional, zonal and national hospital levels in collaboration with Governmental and Non-governmental organizations
- Support implementation and operationalization of national laboratory-based surveillance operational manual
- Ensure timely, reliable and high-quality genotyping laboratory results for HIVDR sequencing and multi-pathogen detection.
- Support integrated sample referral from sentinel sites to public health laboratories and HIVDR laboratories.
- Ensure timely release and availability of HIVDR genotyping laboratory results through electronic system for treatment of patients, program utilization and monitoring.
- Support participation of HIVDR molecular laboratories, surveillance sites and public health laboratories into external quality control programs and implementation of quality management system
- Work closely with MoH and key stakeholders to ensure functionality of testing machines including supporting annual maintenance and calibration.
- Prepare and share weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
- Prepare presentations, participate and/or represent the project in stakeholders’ meetings.
- Support the development of work plans, budgets and their implementation.
- Ensure workplan activities are correctly implemented, completed on time and are of high quality.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Required Education and Professional qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in either Doctor of Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science, or Molecular Biology with a Master’s Degree in Medical Microbiology.
- A minimum of Three years of work experience in health programs.
- Work experience related to AMR, microbiology, surveillance or One Health.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent technical, writing and oral presentation skills are highly desired.
- A proven ability to work as part of a team and to be self-managing.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Previous work experience with PEPFAR-funded projects is desirable.
How to Apply:
To Apply for this Job register or login to https://recruitment.mdh.or.tz/ and from the Dashboard click on Search Vacancies button.
Kindly note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Submit your application before 4th January 2024.
