Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the NGO job vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to: info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Four (4) vacancies: OPHID Charitable Trust
Deadline: 31 March 2013

OPHID Charitable Trust, a local organisation established in 2007, supports the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in Zimbabwe, through the Families and Communities for the Elimination of Pediatric HIV (FACE-Pediatric HIV), a USAID funded- program. The FACE-Pediatric HIV program supports the MOHCW toward the achievement of its national strategic plan to eliminating new HIV infections in Children and keeping mothers and families alive: 2011-2015.  OPHID seeks to fill the following positions aimed at expanding the current national Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and pediatric ART activities.

1) Deputy Coordinator-Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment

Overall Responsibilities
In close collaboration with other HIV prevention, care and treatment programmes, maternal and child health (MCH), sexual reproductive health, and nutrition programs, the Deputy Coordinator-Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment will assist in the coordination and implementation of a comprehensive set of activities aimed at enhancing Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment.

Specific responsibilities
-Support and strengthen linkages between the National PMTCT and ART programmes in strategic planning, while contributing to the development of evidence- based policies, strategies, and guidelines that will foster best practices in PMTCT/EID/ Pediatric HIV Treatment and Care
-Coordinate strategies to address gaps in service delivery of the ‘postnatal cascade’ for mothers, their babies and their families
-Provide technical assistance, support and guidance on policy revision and capacity strengthening initiatives to prevent loss to follow-up of mother-baby pairs
-Contribute to strengthening of HIV care and management at all levels by providing relevant training to health personnel in the area of PMTCT/EID and early HIV care and treatment
-Strengthen community participation in PMTCT/EID and early HIV treatment for infants who test HIV positive, including care and support to HIV-infected pregnant women and their families
-Work closely with all relevant MOHCW departments and partners to ensure appropriate integration of PMTCT/EID with MCH and other services
-Facilitate and support programme reviews of Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Programs by assessing progress, identification of problems, and making appropriate recommendations to improve programme implementation
-Monitor programme performance utilising established M & E protocols, prepare reports and documents when needed; and perform any other related duties, as required

Qualifications Required
-Medical doctor with Master of Public Health, minimum five (5) years experience in HIV and AIDS program management
-A qualification in Child Health/Pediatrics would be an added advantage
-Clinical experience in comprehensive management of HIV in mothers and children
-Experience in PMTCT programs is desirable
-Excellent communication, report writing, computer and analytical skills, demonstrated ability in liaison and collaboration with MOHCW, NGOs and health institutions will be a distinct advantage
-Willingness to spend considerable time in travel outside Harare

2) National Strategic Information / Epidemiology

Key Responsibilities
Under the guidance of HIV and AIDS M&E Coordinator, and in liaison with the National Health Information System, the National Strategic Information/Epidemiology will:
-Participate in the design and implementation of epidemiological studies and surveillance systems
-Participate in the development of operational research strategies in line with concepts and methods of epidemiological quantitative and qualitative research
-Monitor trends in key PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment indicators.
-Interpret trends in access and performance of HIV/TB prevention, eMTCT, care and treatment and respective new approaches that may be introduced in the AIDS and TB Unit such as cascade reinforcement and new PMTCT regimens
-Participate in operational research activities, special investigations and descriptive and analytic studies relating to PMTCT; interprets results and adapts to epidemiology programs
-Consult with physicians, educators, researchers, government health officials and others regarding PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment
-Prepare technical reports and participates in grant writing activities
-Determine and utilize appropriate statistical methods to evaluate and interpret data
-Identify and document good practices from evaluations and studies to be integrated into HIV care and treatment programming and policy

Qualifications Required
-Master of Science in Epidemiology (including modules on advanced epidemiology and
medical statistics)
-At least 5 years experience in data collection, management, and epidemiological analysis
-Experience in HIV, PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment is preferred
-Experience with design, supervision and analysis of operational research initiatives
-Practical knowledge of software packages for database management and
statistical analysis (e.g. EpiData and Stata)
-Excellent writing, documentation and reporting skills

3) PMTCT Program Officer (Training)

Key Responsibilities
Seconded to the national PMTCT unit, and under the guidance of National PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator, the PMTCT Program Officer (Training) will:
-Assist the national PMTCT program to implement and scale-up of activities aimed at reducing the risk of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV
-Assist with the development and implementation of the didactic and practical on-job training of health care workers involved in the PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Program
-Strengthen training capacity at national level in support of the roll-out of more efficacious regimen for PMTCT (MER) and Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV (EID)
-Assist with the development of integrated PMTCT training materials (as well as M&E tools) in collaboration with relevant MOHCW departments, partners: public, private and NGOs and others
-Work with provinces to ensure that PMTCT ARV regimens and Early infant HIV diagnosis(EID) interventions are scaled up to comprehensive PMTCT sites
-Support development of standardized national clinical mentorship and supervision to PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment sites
-Support, supervise and monitor the quality of all PMTCT training courses, including the more efficacious regimen for PMTCT, Rapid HIV testing, Provider Initiated Testing and Counseling for Children and Early infant HIV diagnosis for HIV-exposed children.
-Facilitate development and maintenance of a training data base of all health workers trained as well as trainers of trainers in PMTCT
-Perform other duties as delegated by the National AIDS and TB Coordinator through the National PMTCT Coordinator

Required Qualifications
-A recognized Health degree
-Postgraduate Degree in Public Health (MPH) or relevant field
-Continuing Education in HIV/AIDS and Family Planning would be an asset
-Technical and training skills and competence in Reproductive Health, PMTCT including HIV/AIDS programs at National and or International level
-Ability to adapt and work harmoniously with people from diverse cultural settings and backgrounds
-Computer literacy in Microsoft office package and electronic communication technology

3) National Senior Monitoring  & Evaluation Officer

Key Functions
Seconded to the national PMTCT unit and working under the guidance of National M&E Coordinator in the AIDS and TB Unit and in close liaison with the National PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator and other M&E officers, the senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will perform the following:

Specific Functions
-Provide technical support in the development of M & E plans and strategies that addresses the HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment program requirements including PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment
-Support the development of  M & E tools that are aligned to national and international reporting standards and requirements
-Support capacity building of relevant cadres in M&E for the PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment programs
-Strengthen data quality initiatives and facilitate improvement in timeliness, accuracy, completeness, validity, and precision of data
-Support the rollout of the electronic data-base system to enhance patient-tracking and retention
-Routinely analyze programme data and prepare reports eg quarterly, annually and other programme reports in a timely manner to suit programme requirements
-Support  documentation of good practices from evaluations and studies to be integrated into HIV care and treatment programming
-Develop a regular review process with field sites to evaluate the utilization and impact of ongoing monitoring tools in order to measure improvements in programme quality including giving feedback to sites
-Perform any other relevant duties as and when required

Qualifications Required
-A post graduate degree in statistics or computer science is required
-An additional qualification in epidemiology or public health is an advantage
-At least five years’ working experience in monitoring of public health programs
-Experience in PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment is preferred
-A strong appreciation of the Zimbabwe public health system is an advantage
-An understanding of statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS, EPI- INFO, Minitab, and MS- Access
-Should have strong analytical skills and communication skills
-Be able to work under minimal supervision
-Willing to spend considerable time in travel outside Harare

All posts are for an initial period of one year renewable on good performance. Salary and benefits will be notified to short-listed candidates. Qualified candidates are invited to submit their CV’s, a cover letter, proof of qualifications and three current references. Clearly specify the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email and on the cover letter.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Apply
Send you application by close of business 31st March 2013 to:

Human Resources Manager
OPHID
3 Rowland Square
Milton Park
Harare

Email: recruitments@ophid.co.zw

A Kubatana subscriber confronts the constitutional referendum with confidence:

The day began with gathering about ten people in my hood. I stay in Maridale, Norton. I asked who had seen or read the draft. A friend said he was given a Ndebele version at work. He is a serving military man. And he cant even say ‘ca’. I asked how each one was going to vote. ‘Yes’ because that’s what the government is saying, came the reply. Yes, we all want a new constitution, but how can I vote blindly with the crowd I asked? So in the end we decided to protest. We voted ‘no’. In defeat we were proud.

We have always known that some of these ridiculously pro-Zanu PF newspapers carry “letters to the Editor” written by their own staffers, yet this brazen conduct always manages to jolt us each time we come across such writing.

“A reader” was at it again this week in the Chronicle (19 March 2013) trashing Morgan Tsvangirai and Kenya’s Raila Odinga, declaring that the two “must never be allowed to rule.” I wondered what anarchist would promote such dangerous rhetoric, if not emanating from the Zimpapers scribes  themselves who we know have never shied away from treating Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister with such disrespect he is considered no different from the ordinary Jack.

“Bravo Cde Uhuru Kenyatta,” the “letter writer” wrote, obviously wishing they could shake Uhuru’s hand.

You have to ask yourself if these people actually believe their own nonsense where state media hacks cloak their identities and assume aliases as “Avid readers.”

On another note, I always say that state media journalists obviously do not read what they write and their handlers are certainly not as sharp as they always seek to present themselves.

An editorial in the Chronicle on Monday this week headed “Chinese leadership transition laudable” praised the “new crop of leaders of Chinese Communist Party”, hailing it as a sure sign of “China’s brand of democracy” at work.

The message was loud enough for any discerning reader: if the Chinese could have such a smooth transfer of power, why not Zanu PF!

Well, that was dismal. Almost as exciting as the election of the new Pope! There were more people administering the referendum than people to vote in it. What this most says to me – the people think the politicians (and politics) are irrelevant.

Legislation. What is it for? There was new legislation recently about some new sticker on the back of pick-ups. Where did that come from? Do the police know or understand it, or is it an excuse to solicit bribes at roadblocks?

In a previous blog, I wrote about spending time stopped on Chiremba Road. I never did find out what, if any, ‘offense’ I had committed, under any legislation.

There is new legislation on fuel costs. Who will enforce this?

I read an article in the Mail and Guardian some weeks back, about 450 vehicles (new/ secondhand/used Japanese imports) a day crossing the border. None of it legal. None of it having duty paid for. And the local car industry was collapsing. This is SERIOUS lack of law enforcement, with SERIOUS consequences for Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwean jobs. Not to mention unsafe vehicles all over the roads, killing people.

There is no rule of law in Zimbabwe. So why must we go out there to dip our fingers in ink to agree, or disagree with a new law? (That is all a constitution is. Basic law.) And who did vote? At another meeting today, one guy there, was the only one of 8 in his office that voted. That is a 12 1/2 percent turnout.

But it all stems from our leaders. They have shown us this is the way it is to be done.

In my case, the Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede, should be in jail. He was handed a court order in 2002 ordering him, within seven days, to announce the results of my election. He has never done so. He is in contempt of court. The law says, if you fail to comply with a court order, you will go to jail until you do. It has never been done. Mudede should have been in jail for the last ten years. Yet he is running a senior government office. Taking pay.

Where is the law in Zimbabwe?

The head of the ZNA (treasonous fellow), declares who he will salute, and who he will not salute. As if the army belonged to him, and not the people of Zimbabwe! He will salute who he feels like, and not who the people of Zimbabwe tell him to salute. However, instead of the law taking its course (for treason you get hanged by the neck until dead), this man is still head of Zimbabwe’s Army.

Where is the law in Zimbabwe?

We live in medieval China of the warlords. The Wild West. Harry Potter world, in the last book, where the ministry has collapsed. This is fantasy. Legislature has been made irrelevant, just as the justice system has been made irrelevant. Only power exists.

So why should we get out and vote for something irrelevant?

I went to vote yesterday. Early to avoid the crowds! I got ink on my left pinkie finger, all the way up to the second joint. Seems they have a lot of ink, and don’t expect many people to come to put it on. I bet they were right.

There was no trouble voting. Metal ID (which says citizen of course), they wrote my name, next desk gave me a voting slip, next desk inked my finger (the only desk with only one person on it), I went to the booth and marked my paper (my vote is secret), went to the ballot box, showed the next desk the folded slip with the stamp on it and put it in the box.

Before lunch, I went to my afternoon engagement. Spotted several polling stations along the way. One had six people waiting, another had 20 people. I am guessing the station I voted in might get 1000 voters. There are three polling stations in my ward, and 18 000 voters. If each station gets 1000, that is 3000 voting out of the 18000. That is a 16 percent turnout, by very rough guess, and nothing scientific about it.

No one came for a nothing document.

Here is some more crowd sourced citizen reporting from around Zimbabwe. For consolidated citizen feedback please click here.

Chimanimani – Court House next to the DA’S office. It was well sign posted. There was nobody in the queue ahead of us at 11.45hrs. Three police sat at a pleasant distance under a tree. The process was easy and quick. Four people in the queue by the time we left. The process took 4 minutes.

Some observations 16/3/13 Mbare
8.00am Stodart Hall: about half a dozen people waiting to vote, moving slowly
9.00am St.Peter’s school (next to Shawasha flats): yard full of four queues
4.00pm St.Peter’s: eight police, no voters Musika 1, a police tent on 20th St: one or two voters, very slow Musika 2, a police tent near Mbare PO buses: half a dozen police, less voters; very slow
4.30pm Gwinyai school: little activity visible from outside the gate; very few voters
4.40pm Harare Sec Sch: little activity visible from outside the gate; very few voters

With the exception of St.Peters School in the morning, where the impression was that all the flats residents were voting together, there were as many or more cops at each polling station as voters at any time. The police were all very young, in fresh new grey uniforms displaying no Force numbers.

In walking around I saw few inked fingers, but people were not displaying them as they would after voting in an election. One woman washing fish showed that the ink was almost washed off her finger.

I am in Ward 15 Mutare South Constituency, Dangamvura people are not coming. It looks like there is vote apathy.

Voting was done peacefully though most people do not know what is in the proposed constitution. Ruwa.

Am in town of Redcliff, Kwe Kwe. Voting was peaceful though it was characterised by voter apathy.

Big turnout at Dzivaresekwa.

I am quite disturbed by Justice R Makarau’s statement on ZTV that some polling stations across the country opened a bit late due to shortage of fuel and late pitching of tents. Isn’t that poor planning on the part of ZEC or perhaps it’s lack of funding by government.

Generally no incidence of violence so far. People didn’t come in volumes as expected. I voted at 0700am we were only 5 men and 2 women. Voter apathy is expected since most people said they never saw the draft document. Gweru Mkoba.

I got the copy of the constitution at my school where I teach on time b4 I voted. Generally most people didn’t see the final draft constitution. This has caused confusion among people. I overhead 3 ladies asking each other whether to vote yes or no.

In Gokwe South gwehava area no voter education so they voted for something else other than a good constitution.

In Mat South, Matobo, Cyrene. Drove across 2 Mat North, Umguza, WestAcre 2 cast my vote. Lots by the shopping centre with red fingers, none eva seen a draft const!

NCA & Zimrights well known members denied access polls around Kariba. ZANU PF members going door 2 door writing names of those either voted or not. People were put on polling stations jotting down names.

People voted here at Zvishavane but almost everyone said we had voted for what we have not knowin’ but they vote in peace.

Majority do not know what YES/NO is all about hence a very low turn up.