7 Fresher Community Counsellor Jobs – Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP)

Job: Community Counsellors (7 Fresher Jobs)

Organization: Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP)

Duty Station: Uganda

Reports to: Other Preventions Officer

About US:

The Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) was established in 1987 as a collaboration between researchers at Makerere, Columbia and John Hopkins Universities, the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious diseases and the International Centre for Excellence Research (ICER). This was as a result of the first identification of clinical AIDS in Rakai district Uganda in 1982 by Drs. Sewankambo and Serwadda. The initiation of the Program, then known as Rakai Project led to a series of clinical studies characterizing the disease and its epidemiology; and also brought the partnership with other colleagues including Professor Maria Wawer and Prof Ronald Gray.

Job Summary: The Community Counselor will provide counseling services to newly diagnosed HIV patients and those already in care. They will work together with the district and health facility teams to improve Same-Day ART Initiation, Assisted Notification (APN) Implementation and Retention of clients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Masaka region. Applications are therefore invited from qualified and competent Ugandans who are passionate about providing counseling services on a volunteer basis

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Offer counseling services to newly diagnosed HIV patients, their partners, and families as appropriate.
• Provide appropriate counselling for same-day ART initiation
• Ensure continued engagement in care for clients that initiate ART.
• Offer on-going counselling to HIV+ clients, their partners, and families as appropriate.
• Identify clients eligible for APN and provide appropriate counseling as per protocol.
• Provide counselling required for HIV Recency testing
• Complete required documentation in source documents e.g registers
• Provide adherence counseling to clients failing on ART
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a Diploma in Counselling and Guidance or its equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning will be an added advantage.
• HIV/AIDS Counselling Certificate
• At least one years’ relevant experience in HIV counselling preferably rural health facilities
• Good communication skills and counselling skills
• Knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS.
• Must have knowledge and understanding of the local language.

Other Requirements

• Applicant Must be a resident of the above district or nearby areas.
• Attach a photocopy of an original National ID.
• At least one years’ relevant experience in HIV counselling preferably rural health facilities
• An LC I Recommendation Letter from the area of your residence (Kyotera, Mutukula, Kalangala, Masaka, Gomba Kanoni, Kalungu, Bukasa)

How to Apply:

All interested Candidates possessing the above attributes can send their applications including a cover letter, latest Copy of CV (with 3 referees), copies of academic qualifications/certificates ( in one document (Word/PDF)) addressed to the HR Manager to jobs@rhsp.org. Kindly indicate the job title in the subject line of the email. Only online applications will be considered.

Deadline: 24th March 2021 at 5:00 pm