Volunteer, Assistive Technology

Overview:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.
- CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture._

**Program Overview: CHAI South Africa - Assistive Technology**

Assistive Technology (AT) is an umbrella term covering products and services that enhance an individual’s functioning and independence, to facilitate participation, and ability to live their full potential. This is particularly true for children who will experience life-long benefits. AT can improve mobility, hearing, vision, or communication capacities, with examples such as wheelchairs, prostheses, hearing aids and spectacles. AT access must consider not only the product itself, but also the spectrum of health and rehabilitation services related to provision/prescription of AT to the individual, including assessment, fitting, user training and follow-up (users’ satisfaction), maintenance and repair.

Despite the large need, nearly one billion people are denied access, particularly in low
- and middle-income countries, where access can be as low as 3% of the need for these life-changing products. The growing need for AT in low-and middle-income countries is rapidly outpacing the current gains in access. A radical shift is needed from the status quo, away from parallel and fragmented AT provision towards integration with public systems.

In South Africa, CHAI’s AT Team is supporting the Department of Health (DoH) at the national, provincial and district level in strengthening their service delivery platforms for improving access to AT. Key areas of technical support include but are not limited to; identification of children and adults needing AT; and (2) provision of appropriate, affordable, and quality products.

The Volunteer will be seconded to the provincial Department of Health at the facility level and will report to the assigned supervisor and the AT Manager.

**Responsibilities**:
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Conduct early childhood disability screenings (e.g., hearing, vision) for children aged 0 to six years.
- Provide health education on disabilities and AT.
- Collect and manage screening data, including other related administrative responsibilities.
- Handle screening referrals, including patient monitoring and tracking, and provide relevant feedback to caregivers.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Qualifications:

- Minimum of a Matric qualification (High School in South Africa).
- Proficiency in English and an African language commonly spoken in the assigned area (suburb, city, or subdistrict).
- Police clearance certificate.
- Basic knowledge of MS Word and Excel (proficiency will be tested during the recruitment process).

**Advantages**:

- Experience in the public health sector
- Strong communication skills, including excellent phone etiquette
- Ability to function well in a multidisciplinary team.
- Willingness to undergo a health screening as per Occupational health and safety requirements
- An understanding of infection control protocols
- Demonstrated ability to multitask, be effective in high-pressure situations and adapt to fast-paced and changing environments with a strong commitment to excellence, both internally and externally, and with limited-struct