Vigilance Liaison Officer (Free State) at Jhpiego

Overview

• Implementation of the RISE GVAX Project, which includes supporting human resources technical assistance to partners.

Responsibilities

• Improve provincial coordination of vaccine and therapeutics safety reporting and case management.
• Formalise linkages with PDOH to facilitate SAHPRA decentralized pharmacovigilance support activities:
• Engage with the PDoH to ensure harmonisation and coordination of PV activities.
• Ensure formal linkages to support the reporting and accountabilities.
• Implement procedures and strengthen coordination with provincial and district level DOH     staff to improve AEFI reporting and case management activities:
• Develop/update reporting procedures for both AEFIs and therapeutics ADRs and co-ordinate finalisation.
• Socialise reporting procedures within the province for proper implementation.
• Monitor compliance with the new processes and continue with socialisation.
• Strengthen provincial safety committees and linkages to SAHPRA.
• Work with the PDOH counterparts to implement/strengthen provincial safety committees:
• Engage with the principles (HOPS, PV Leads, HOD) regarding the need for the development of safety committee.
• Establish/strengthen Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committees at institutional, district and provincial levels.
• Establish the formation of the Provincial Immunisation Safety Expert Committee.
• Review and streamline procedures for safety committees and strengthen capacity for preliminary safety assessments for vaccines and therapeutics:
• Develop 2024 PISEC meeting schedule and communicate to relevant structures.
• Develop/review and finalise meeting conduct procedures e.g., Terms of refence, etc.
• Arrange training for PISEC members.
• Support the work of the PISEC:
• Track all AEFI investigations and report on the progress.
• Coordinate and participate in AEFI/AE case investigations.
• Coordinate case allocation for assessment by PISEC members.
• Coordinate all PISEC meetings.
• Communicate all PISEC pre-liminary findings to NISEC for further assessment.
• Ensure case closure and provision of feedback to the vaccinees and family members.
• Strengthen pharmacovigilance knowledge for healthcare professionals within the province.
• Implement targeted pharmacovigilance training for managers and healthcare personnel in    both public and private sectors:
• Develop 2024 training plan.
• Coordinate and implement trainings for healthcare professionals and managers in both private and private sectors as per the plan.
• Coordinate and train all the train-the-trainers planned for the province.

Required Qualifications

• Matric certificate and appropriate 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree and registration as a Pharmacist with South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) at NQF level 8 as recognised by SAQA.
• A postgraduate qualification in relevant Pharmacy field will be an added advantage.
• Proficient in MS Office. *A valid Driver’s License.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Comprehensive and sound knowledge of all relevant legislation, protocols, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 as amended.
• Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills to allow analysis and interpretation of written and numerical data.
• Good, effective communication skills (verbal, written, conflict management and resolution).
• Delivery of service objectives with professional excellence and efficiency.
• Ability to make effective decisions by using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice while carefully considering the implications of such a decision.
• Ability to work unsupervised for long periods of time.
• Ability to work within a team environment.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Promoting a more proactive, service oriented and performance-based management culture.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple, often competing priorities.
• Proficient knowledge of relevant platforms (VigiBase, VigiFlow, Vigilance Hub, etc.)