Primary Health Care Technical Officer

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Transcend Programme is a three-year project implemented through a partnership between Amref Health Africa in Kenya and Turkana County Government. Through a Primary Health Care Approach, the programme aims to ensure sustainable access to health services particularly Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and family planning services, along with addressing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Specifically targeting Turkana West sub-county, Turkana County, the programme seeks to accelerate improvements in health outcomes among the host community and refugees.

JOB PURPOSE

The Technical Officer will provide technical support to the implementation of health service delivery interventions, and ensure integration of NCDs to PHC interventions. Based in Turkana County, the Technical Officer will provide hands on technical support to County and Sub County Health Management Teams (C/SCHMT) to use a contextualized Primary Health Care approach to strengthen the demand and utilization of quality health services by implementing sustainable and evidence-based high impact interventions. The Technical Officer will also strengthen the county capacity to deliver quality health services for the host community.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

RMNCAH and NCDs Service Delivery

• Provide technical expertise, coordination and supervision of the Transcend programme activities
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the implementation of Inclusive Refugee Response Plan (IRRP) health programme
• Support the C/SCHMT to establish and operationalize the contextualized Turkana Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of Transcend programme processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of the project to other Amref and IRRP programs
• Work with C/SCHMTs to institute continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance quality service delivery
• Support capacity development for healthcare workers through trainings, one-on-one mentorship and on-the-job training, and supportive supervision
• Provide technical support to C/SCHMT on supply chain management to ensure availability of essential commodities, including immunization commodities
• Work with the CHMT/SCHMT to disseminate up-to-date health related guidelines, protocols and standards and relevant job aids among others
• Strengthen inter-facility and community-facility referral for health services
• Work with C/SCHMTs in the development of joint work plan and ensure its implementation

Demand Creation

• Support the development and deployment of community led SBCC interventions for the programme, in collaboration with the CHMT and other stakeholders
• Lead in the design of community engagement interventions to promote community acceptance of health services.
• Support the deployment and utilization of electronic Community Health Information System
• Provide support in the identification of key gaps/challenges/ barriers to health services uptake among target beneficiaries and identify strategies for addressing them
• Support peer led approaches, including technological innovations with youth champions to promote youth-friendly services uptake among the youth

Research and Advocacy

• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in health
• Support advocacy for increased health budgetary allocation and utilization
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects

Monitoring and Evaluation and Documentation

• Support monitoring and evaluation of programmes in order to assess progress, ensure accountability, determine impact and report significant achievements to ensure organizational learning
• Support in health data monitoring and audit as required by ensuring reporting in the eCHIS, Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) and project-based tools
• Lead in documentation, institutionalization and dissemination of achievements, best practices and lessons learnt in implementation of health activities

Partnership and Networking

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector, government counterparts, and county stakeholders
• Working with other Amref Projects, represent the project at County and Sub County technical meetings, conferences and workshops to support co-design and institutionalization of project interventions
• Represent Transcend programme in relevant partners and collaborators consultative meetings at the county level as delegated by the supervisor

Admin and Financial Management

• Support in day-to-day management of activity budgets including processing field imprests and other financial transactions
• Ensure timely accounting for the use of project resources by stakeholders and communities in liaison with finance teams

Program Development

• Participate in concepts development and writing of new concepts and proposals for fundraising
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in the Health Sciences, and related RMNCAH/ FP clinical training. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Training, knowledge and experience in the implementation of RMNCAH/FP and NCDs service delivery programs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years relevant work experience in RMNCAH and NCDs service delivery
• Up-to-date knowledge in PHC, RMNCAH and NCDs, including EmONC, essential newborn care, MPDSR, IMNCI, ANC, MIP, PNC, immunization, supportive supervision and quality improvement systems
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, for-profit private sector entities, local community organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at County and Sub County levels, preferably including demonstrated experience in building service delivery quality and utilization
• Experience in working both with health care workers at health facilities, and community levels
• Experience in working with project funded by large donors

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Good coordination, problem solving and networking skills
• Excellent report writing skills
• Ability to work independently and in isolation
• Decision making and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work under pressure, and within strict time limits
• The ability to plan, organize and prioritize work