Job Description

Posted on May 18, 2023

Reports to Provincial Medical Officer – Clinical Services. The incumbent will ensure adherence to SOPs, policies and regulations for provision of quality services in the Laboratories under their charge. He/she will be responsible for strengthening the laboratory courier system for Viral load/CD4 and DBS for EID testing and services to ensure uninterrupted laboratory services. He/she will work closely with the Ministry of health Provincial Health Office, District Health offices and implementing partners to plan and support VL / CD4/EID scale-up and coordinate integrated sample courier systems. The post requires management of motorbike riders and vehicle drivers and ensuring 100% uptime of sample courier and result return services. The position requires implementation of diagnostic lab network optimization (utilizing data to optimize courier and testing services).
Main duties

Coordinates a functional Courier System
Responsible for day to day operations of VL /CD4/DBS specimen courier system in the province under his/her charge.
Monitors and tracks supply of advanced HIV disease lab commodities like CD4 machine and reagents, TBLAM test, cryptococcus antigen test, etc
Ensures that systems for sample and result tracking are established and implemented
Works with the Facilities Department to establish a fueling system in each District and Province
Ensures that motor vehicle/motor bikes preventive maintenances are done and documented as required by the Standard Operating Procedure.
Ensures the availability and completion of sample tracking logs by the drivers and riders
Works with District and Provincial Health Offices to facilitate trainings for riders and drivers
Ensures that all riders have appropriate protective gear and valid licenses.
Ensures that all riders and drivers document fuel in their possession, mileage traveled and samples and results are carried to labs and facilities.
Works with the Ministry of Health staffs and partners in formulating agreeable standards and establish clearly defined courier system methods to be applied in the laboratory.
Facilitates Hub Laboratory Capacitation
Works with Districts and Provinces to ensure that Hubs Labs are able to process HIV Viral Load and Early Infant Diagnosis samples.
Generates a list of supplies and equipment requirements for each Hub Lab.
Ensures that all Hub labs have the appropriate registers (Hub VL/EID and Facility VL registers).
Responsible for mentoring facility Health care workers on specimen management (collection, packaging, storage and transportation).
Provides mentorships on completion of VL and DBS laboratory forms to avoid sample rejections.
Monitors usage and availability of laboratory commodities used in VL and DBS collection in all facilities.
Works with the M&E Coordinators to conduct quarterly health facility and Hub assessments.
Provides eLabs onsite trainings to facility staff.
Timely submission of all required reports

Qualifications

Diploma in Biomedical Medical laboratory sciences from a reputable institution
Minimum of 3 years’ direct work experience preferably in PCR lab
Minimum of 1 year experience working with Provincial and District Health offices and implementing partners to coordinate activities.
Registration with the Health Professions Council of Zambia a must
In possession of a valid Practicing License
Registration with Biomedical Society of Zambia will be an advantage.

Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.