AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Ltd./Gte. (APIN) is a non-governmental organization registered with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). APIN has built a strong partnership with the Nigerian Government, which is memorialized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Planning Commission. APIN is a leading Nigerian organization in the provision of prevention, care and treatment services to patients with HIV/AIDS and other diseases of public health significance. Its operating experience in Nigeria dates back to 2000, when the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) initiated HIV/AIDS research and prevention initiatives in Nigeria, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2004, the HSPH project started implementing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). These activities culminated in the establishment of APIN as an independent NGO in 2007, with the aim of building local capacity and sustainability of HIV/AIDS and other diseases programming in Nigeria.
Presently, APIN operates as a direct implementing partner to CDC having just completed a 3-year transition from Harvard in line with the US Government’s goal of transitioning programs to local indigenous organizations. In the four years since its operations as an implementing partner of the CDC, APIN has managed a cumulative budget of more than $50m, a reflection of the growing confidence of the USG that APIN has built enough systems to operate as an independent implementing partner of US funds. In addition to the US funded activities, APIN is currently soliciting for other funding opportunities to diversify its funding base in the wider public health arena as part of its response to current health challenges and its overall sustainability plan.
Apart from its contribution to evidence-based HIV prevention in the country, APIN is also one of the pioneers in the provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care in Nigeria. It currently supports the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide ARV care and treatment directly as a USG implementing partner tomore than 74,000 patients in 33 treatment clinics and 75 primary healthcare centers in nine (9) states. These clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories with capabilities for diagnosis and monitoring of HIV including CD4, viral load, DNA PCR and drug resistance monitoring (DRM). Similar giant strides have been made in prevention, systems strengthening, as well as in human and infrastructure capacity development efforts.
It has a widespread network of service providers, communities, researchers and persons living with HIV and AIDS support groups in nine (9) states in Nigeria. APIN has a. purposive, exemplary and result-oriented leadership, committed and hardworking human resources and a broad-based support of collaborators in Nigeria and the United States. It essentially inherited the same dedicated team that has worked on the Harvard program in the last 6 -10 years.Job Task
The successful person will work to accelerate progress toward the attainment of PEPFAR Nigeria program goals in the State, which will include providing support to HIV treatment facilities to achieve epidemic control by reaching the UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 goal. S/He will work with other team members to promote age-specific, gender-sensitive approaches to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as part of the national “test and start” strategy to improve linkage to treatment in all LGAs in the state.
S/He will ensure that newly identified PLHIV (adults and children), as well as those currently on treatment, continue to receive uninterrupted ART services in all LGAs, are retained, and achieve virologic suppression.
S/He will support ART services for PLHIV through differentiated models of care and treatment in order to improve treatment outcomes and create efficiencies, including multi-month drug refills, use of community structures, etc.
Special program emphasis is placed on Benue State where the “ART Surge Strategy” is being implemented.
S/He will work with other team members to ensure the achievement of the surge objectives.
Qualifications and Experience
Must possess a Medical Degree (MBBS, MBChB) from a recognized institution.
Possession of a Master’s Degree in Public Health or a related field would be added advantage.
Must be a registered medical practitioner with a current practice license from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Must have a minimum of six (6) years’ post-qualification experience and a minimum of three (3) years’ experience supervising and coordinating the direct provision of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) services in an integrated community setting.
Knowledge of global and national HIV treatment standards.
Leadership/mentoring skills and good interpersonal skills.
Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
Advanced knowledge of and experience using MS office packages including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook among others.
High level of integrity.
Must possess good relationship management/ advocacy skills.
Must possess good report writing, presentation, data interpretation skills.