ORGANISATION BACKGROUND

SHDEPHA+ is a National Non-Governmental Organization, registered on 21 November 1994 with registration number SO 8216, and have received a new compliance registration number 00NGO/R1/00384 under the NGO act 2002. The organization aim to mobilize resources to help people living with HIV/AIDS and to fight the spread of the Disease. Although originally focusing on people living with HIV/AIDS, over the years SHDEPHA+ has expanded beyond HIV/AIDS and related issues to other development interventions and now covers both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS with over 10 branches countrywide.

SHDEPHA+ Head office is based in Kahama Municipal-Shinyanga Region with operations office across 9 Regions in Tanzania mainland the organization has been working with both National and International Donors, Local and Central Government and other stakeholders toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Organization works with the Key and vulnerable Groups including Women, Children, Youth, People with special needs; and it gives special attention to the underserved and Marginalized populations such as People Living with HIV(PLHV).

SHDEPHA+ VISION: A democratic Community that is free of Poverty, Hunger, and Diseases and enjoys a good quality of education, standards of living, and social well being.

SHDEPHA+ MISSION: SHDEPHA+ is committed to reducing income and non-income poverty, hunger, human suffering, diseases, and the impact and spread of HIV/AIDS by empowering marginalized and vulnerable people, most at-risk populations, and communities in general to achieve Community-based and sustainable human development.

GOAL: Using SHDEPHA+ core values and mission to work toward the Millennium Development Goals to improve the lives of marginalized and vulnerable groups, most at risk populations, and communities in general.

VACANCY DETAILS

BACKGROUND

SHDEPHA+ is implementing a PEPFAR-funded project funded by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) of the Department of Defense (DoD) through HJFMRI Tanzania, as part of the HIV Prevention Care and Support Program in the Southern Highlands (SHL). This program focuses on collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MOH), PO-Regional Authorities and Local Government, and MCDGWSG to provide comprehensive community-based HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services across the Southern Highland regions, including Mbeya, Songwe, Ruvuma, Rukwa, and Katavi.

The partnership with HJFMRI is aligned with the goal of reaching UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets: ensuring 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on ART achieve viral suppression. For FY25, SHDEPHA+ will implement this HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program in Mbeya, with a focus on three key areas: HIV/AIDS prevention, community-based HIV services (CBHS), and HIV testing and counselling services (HTS).

To meet these goals, SHDEPHA+ provides services that address gender-based violence (GBV), community HIV testing (HTS), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), especially for adolescents and youth aged 15-24. The program also focuses on key and vulnerable populations (KVP) at higher risk for HIV. In addition to prevention and testing, SHDEPHA+ engages in tracing clients who have missed appointments (MISSAPs) and those experiencing interruptions in treatment (IIT) to ensure continued care and contribute towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets.

Job type: Full-time

LINKAGE AND RETENTION OFFICER (1 POSITION)

Location: Mbeya

Report to: Program Coordinator – HIV Prevention, Care and Support Program

Contract: 1 Year (renewable based on the performance and funds availability)

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The primary objective of the Linkage and Retention Officer is to facilitate the seamless connection of individuals diagnosed with HIV to care and treatment services, while ensuring long-term retention in these services. This role focuses on supporting clients in initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), reducing loss to follow-up, and improving adherence to treatment. The officer will work closely with healthcare providers, counselors, and community health workers to monitor and track clients, provide psychosocial support, and address barriers to retention. The goal is to contribute to the achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by strengthening linkage systems and ensuring clients remain engaged in care until viral suppression is achieved.

Roles and Responsibilities

Ensure newly diagnosed HIV-positive clients are promptly linked to HIV care and treatment services, including antiretroviral therapy (ART)
Coordinate with HIV Testing Services (HTS) counselors and healthcare providers to facilitate seamless referrals from testing to treatment initiation.
Assist clients with navigating healthcare systems, ensuring they understand available services and where to access care
Monitor clients enrolled in care to ensure ongoing engagement, with a particular focus on those at risk of loss to follow-up
Provide ongoing support to individuals to encourage adherence to ART, promoting consistent treatment and care visits
Work with community health workers to track and re-engage clients who have missed appointments or experienced interruptions in treatment (IIT). vii. Tailor linkage and retention strategies to address the specific needs of key and vulnerable populations (KVP)
Collaborate with peer educators, community health workers, and other stakeholders to create supportive environments that reduce stigma and encourage retention in care among high-risk groups
Conduct community-based follow-up for clients who have missed appointments or dropped out of care (MISSAPs)
Utilize various tracking mechanisms, including CHWs networks, phone calls, and home visits, to trace clients and re-engage them in care
Provide counseling and psychosocial support to clients who have interrupted treatment, addressing any barriers they face in maintaining their HIV care. xii. Provide adherence counseling to clients to ensure they understand the importance of maintaining ART for viral suppression.
Help clients address challenges to adherence, such as stigma, side effects, transportation issues, or social barriers.
Collaborate with healthcare providers to monitor clients’ treatment progress, ensuring that ART regimens are effective, and any issues are quickly addressed. xv. Accurately record client information and follow-up activities in the project’s monitoring and evaluation system.
Track key indicators related to linkage, retention, and adherence, ensuring that the project meets its performance targets, particularly in relation to the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals.
Regularly report on client linkage and retention rates, identifying trends, successes, and areas for improvement.
Train and mentor community health workers and peer educators on effective linkage and retention strategies.
Foster collaboration between different health service providers (clinics, hospitals, community-based services) to create an integrated approach to client retention
Participate in coordination meetings with health facilities and stakeholders to review progress and improve service delivery.
Identify and address social, economic, and cultural barriers that prevent clients from accessing and staying in care.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience

Required Education, Medical trained personnel with a diploma or Bachelor in: Nursing, clinical medicine, Sociology and other health-related disciplines.
3+ years relevant experience years’ experience in HIV Programs under PEPFAR.
Experience with utilization of MS applications and use in data analyses and implementing protocols for data quality.
Ability to interact well with all targeted groups and peer outreach workers by facilitating a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, and non-stigmatizing environment in the program.
Advanced skills in Database programming, and analytical software are added advantage.
Ability to work independently and Fluent in English.