Description

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

is an International Non-Governmental Organization that was founded in 1987 and has been at the forefront of the HIV response, currently supporting HIV/AIDS programs in 50 countries including Rwanda.;AHF’s mission is to provide cutting edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay and core values are to be Patient-Centered, Value Employees, Respect for Diversity, Nimble, and Fight for What’s Right;AHF Rwanda is looking for very competent candidate to fill up the position of a Laboratory Scientist who will be responsible for all AHF supported health facilities located in northern, Western and eastern provinces and he or she will be based in Musanze District

Summary

The HIV/AIDS Nurse Mentor

is responsible for coordination and supervision and mentorship of activities at AHF -Rwanda supported sites. He/she will support the improvement of quality care and treatment for people living with HIV in AHF supported sites.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities are:

• Support staff at sites to institute /reinforce targeted HIV testing at different entry points for children and adults
• Support the sites to improve the quality of pre-test and post-test counseling at all adult and pediatric entry points.
• Support sites to reinforce linkage and retention system of HIV positive clients in HIV care
• Provide CMEs to site staff on appropriate testing procedures and tools for exposed infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
• Ensure that testing systems including PCR for early infant diagnosis and provision of prophylaxis are done and supervise its quality.
• Facilitate the proper integration of HIV and NCDs services
• Facilitate the integration of cervical cancer screening and other STIs in HIV services.
• To ensure that community HIV targeted testing is well implemented in a kind of Moon Light in order to have improved outcome results.
• To attend field mentorship activities in remote areas.
• To implement community engagement activities and interact with peer educators
• To conduct outreach campaigns.
• Assist the site to ensure high standards of PMTCT service in the line of elimination of new HIV infections in PMTCT.
• To ensure that HIV positive clients are put on ART and followed up in care and treatment.
• Assist the site to initiate the harmonized appointment of clients in HIV care to facilitate client’s adherence
• Assist the site in elaborating proper infection control including TB, COVID 19, Mpox, EBOLA.
• Initiating learning spaces for all sites his/her supervision
• Assist the sites to strengthen systems for identification and follow-up of exposed infants.
• Support sites to strengthen appropriate referral and linkage systems for infected infants and children, adolescents, and adults to care and treatment.
• Train/verify proper OIs prevention, diagnosis, and management.
• Support sites to reinforce integrated clinical care and prevention including NCDs, STIs, viral hepatitis hepatitis, syphilis
• Support sites to institute/reinforce medical and psychosocial follow-up consultations.
• Assist the staff of the site to manage client flow and referral system intra and extra site.
• Support sites to strengthen clear systems for HIV Viral load, CD4, and other laboratory examinations are done according to national guidelines.
• Support sites to institute/reinforce pediatric diagnostic disclosure and psychosocial support sessions in sites.
• Promote viral load suppression for the patients infected with HIV through enhanced adherence counseling and clinical follow-up.
• Verify if all Clients receive ART and other drugs according to the national guidelines.
• Support sites to strengthen pre (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP):
• Support sites to institute/ reinforce an identification system for clients who missed appointments and those lost to follow up
• Support sites to institute/ reinforce regular paediatric, adolescent& adult support groups.
• Train site staff on family planning HIV integration.
• Support sites to institute/reinforce sensitization sessions on FP.
• Facilitate client access to family planning methods.
• Support sites to institute/reinforce behavior change counseling in PMTCT, in VCT, ART clinic and link them to family planning practices.
• Ensure FP tools are made available on the sites.
• Support site staff on quantification and requisition of drugs using the approved National tools and data collection tools
• Support site staff to identify equipment needs support and support acquisition
• Ensure availability of basic materials and supplies.
• Support and train sites on the preparation of timely consumption reports and use of the different reporting and monitoring tools.Strengthen the capacity of staff at ART and TB clinics in integrated TB and HIV/AIDS services through ongoing supervision visits and mentoring.
• Provide technical support for the implementation of TB screening of PLHIV attending HIV care and treatment services.
• Ensure that all TB+HIV patients receive adequate management.
• Establish and support multidisciplinary team meetings at sites to discuss case management of HIV+ patients with TB.
• Participate in TB/HIV training for staff at the health facility level.
• Serve as a resource for AHF - Rwanda in the evaluation of ongoing programs, and the subsequent development of new and/or expanded programs for integrated TB and HIV/AIDS.
• Mentor the site staff on proper nutrition screening, monitoring, counselling management
• To provide onsite training of providers on infant feeding practices and nutritional counseling.
• Support the sites to initiate /integrate group nutritional education including cooking and gardening demonstrations and food distribution when available/possible.
• Train PMTCT nurses on PMTCT National guidelines, protocols and follow up of pregnant women, their partners, and infants
• Reinforce HIV testing services in ANC, labor, and delivery as per guidelines
• Support the site to strengthen communication and referral system between ANC, maternity, and PMTCT services.
• Ensure clear client flow and develop Client flow algorithm.
• Support sites to strengthen linkages between PMTCT - Maternity – and exposed infant follow-up.
• Improve lab specimen collection e.g.: for PCR, VL, CD4 for women in PMTCT, and verify proper result records.
• Support sites to initiate / reinforce regularly scheduled PMTCT care coordination staff meetings between PMTCT/maternity and VCT/Exposed infant follow-up/ART
• Support sites to initiate/reinforce peer mother groups support in PMTCT

Qualifications

Experience and skills.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent health-related degree in Nursing (A1 or A0 in Nursing) and/or Equivalence in case needed.
• Experience: More than 8 years of experience in clinical HIV/AIDS care, including the provision of ART and PMTCT. Being trained on CQI , being trained on cervical cancer screening and treatment of precancer lesions and having willingness to work in remote areas is an added value.
• Having a current valid license to practice in nursing field in Rwanda, provided by related council.
• Demonstrated experience in program planning, assessment, and implementation of comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinical care.
• Demonstrated experience in HIV/AIDS clinical mentoring of health care workers in health facilities (i.e: Health Centers).
• Having experience in HIV and STIs testing and treatment.
• Having experience in follow up of key populations.
• Proficient in Computer and Internet skills, including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proven skills in management, supervision, and leadership.
• Agrees to take additional duties, tasks or responsibilities given by the employer when necessary and agrees to accept reassignment of the workstation location in case of special circumstances by the employer/institution.

Personal qualities and behavioral competencies.

Are:

• Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret data and write reports.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people of different backgrounds.
• Strong organizing, planning, and prioritizing skills, and applying sound problem-solving skills to ongoing challenges.
• Capacity to operate both as a team player in large diverse teams as well as individually.
• Self-motivated and maintain sound levels of work ethic.

How to apply

Submission of applications

– to include a one-page cover letter, updated CV with contacts of three professional referees, and copies of qualification certificates – should be submitted via email globalhr.africa@aidshealth.org with subject RWANDA Laboratory Scientist based Rwamagana District . The deadline for submission of applications is 03rd /April/2026 at 00:00’