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Program Officer Clinical Laboratory | Osun State

The Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) is a leading and reputable non-governmental organization addressing infectious and non-infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and cancer by providing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, capacity building, research, care, and support services. IHVN is in partnership with local and international organizations and the different tiers of the government of Nigeria at the national, state, and local levels. The Institute’s vision is to be a leader in providing quality health services, capacity building, and research in West Africa and beyond.

The Facility and Community Based Service Delivery Support (FC SDS) Project is a United States Department of States-funded project through Stop TB Partnership Geneva, that is a revolutionary program working with communities, facilities, and relevant State and National structures to improve access to TB case finding, diagnosis, treatment, and notification in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo States; as well as increase domestic financing for TB and strengthen surveillance and integrated reporting across five Strategic Objectives:

  1. REACH: Maximize TB case detection in all age groups through active case finding, including facility-based screening, contact investigation, community mobilization and screening, and strengthening the TB diagnostic network.
  2. CURE: Support timely treatment initiation, adherence, and completion, especially among DR-TB cases.
  3. PREVENT: Reduce the risk of transmission through expansion of access to TB preventive treatment (TPT), infection control, and stigma reduction.
  4. INNOVATE: Incorporate and scale up new tools and approaches such as digital chest X-rays with computer-aided diagnostics, hotspot mapping, and molecular diagnostics.
  5. SUSTAIN: Strengthen state and LGA capacity to institutionalize domestic resource mobilization and leverage government structures for sustainable program ownership.

It is to this end that IHVN is seeking to fill the following positions:

PositionProgram Officer Clinical Laboratory
Reports toState Team Lead, Senior Program Officer CLS
DepartmentLaboratory Services
Scheduled Work TimeMonday – Friday (Flexibility, willing to travel and work weekends)
LocationOsun state

Opening Date:   1st October 2025

Closing Date:     6th October 2025

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Senior Program Officer, Clinical Laboratory Services, and the Project Director, the Program Officer for the FC SDS Project will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all laboratory activities within the state of implementation. He/She will provide technical guidance, programmatic assistance, mitigation strategies, as well as monitoring and evaluation at the state level to ensure the implementation of high-quality tuberculosis laboratory program activities. He/She will collaborate with State lead, Cluster teams and Senior Program Officer (SPO)- Clinical Laboratory Services to implement laboratory activities and ensure that laboratory program targets are achieved and reported in a timely manner.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide technical assistance to supported laboratories on sample processing, biosafety, and the implementation of best laboratory practices.
  • Support implementation of laboratory strengthening interventions, including quality assurance (QA) and quality improvement (QI) activities.
  • Work with State Quality Assurance Officer (SQAO) to monitor the quality of laboratory operations and testing in supported facilities to ensure compliance with National guidelines/standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Facilitate training on sputum smear microscopy, GeneXpert, Truenat, TB-LAMP, LF-LAM, HIV rapid testing, equipment maintenance, and quality management system.
  • Conduct mentorship and supportive supervision visits to supported laboratories.
  • Collaborate with State TB and HIV programs, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen laboratory networks.
  • Collate, analyze, validate, and report laboratory data to monitor program performance and inform decision-making.
  • Track laboratory commodities and consumables to prevent stockouts and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
  • Ensure timely submission of laboratory deliverables and report to the regional office.
  • Develop concept papers and research papers to improve and extend existing laboratory activities.
  • Perform every other duty necessary for the successful implementation of laboratory activities and as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science (BMLS).
  • Valid professional practicing license and evidence of registration with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in clinical laboratory services, preferably in donor-funded health programs (TB, HIV, or related areas)
  • Excellent working knowledge of laboratory equipment and techniques for the following categories of TB assays, including GeneXpert, Truenat, TB-LAMP, LF-LAM, and AFB Smear Microscopy
  • Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory quality assurance systems, biosafety
  • Experience in program planning, implementation, and reporting
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and laboratory information management systems (LIMS)

Skills and Abilities: 

  • Strong technical knowledge of TB diagnostic services
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Willingness to travel frequently to project sites.

Mode of Application:

Application letter and detailed curriculum vitae in Microsoft Word format should be forwarded to the Assistant Director, Human Resources through this email address: [email protected], and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Safeguarding (PSEAH):

As an organization, IHVN takes the issue of Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) seriously because safeguarding the people we interface with in all our programmatic work is of the utmost importance to us.  IHVN only recruits representatives who are suited and abide by the strict responsibility of PSEAH.

By applying to this role, you agree to IHVN carrying out a background check on you with respect to SEAH records, and you also confirm that neither before nor after being hired will you breach the IHVN policy on SEAH.

Equal employment opportunity statement

IHVN is an equal opportunity employer. We do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable laws.

IHVN SI Staff Convene to Drive Innovation in Patient Care

More than 40 Strategic Information (SI) staff at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) have converged in Abuja for a review meeting themed, “Process Innovation, Automation and Best Sustainable Practices.”

The five-day meeting provided a platform for state teams to make presentations on their annual activities and engage in discussions on achievements, and innovations aimed at strengthening systems, and tools. Sessions also featured inter-departmental and inter-unit peer learning exchanges, alongside discussions on enhancing data quality, integrity, and utilization.”

At the meeting, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah commended the staff for their collective contribution to documentation, analysis, reporting, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information to guide quality decision making for programs implemented by the Institute.  

Dr. Mensah called the staff to embrace innovation and cultivate strategic relationships to enhance sustainability of the organization’s programs.

IHVN Director Strategic Information, Mrs. Fati Murtala-Ibrahim explained that the SI team has deliberated on ways to improve efficiency including automation of some tools to ease pressure and reduce turnaround time for certain tasks.

“Our focus for the next financial year is efficiency, quality and implementing with integrity. Once you can strengthen the system that generates the data used for decision making, it will translate to better treatment outcomes for patients.  Different teams have showcased tools and innovations that they have developed, shared best practices, templates and engaged in practical demonstrations,” she said.

Mrs. Murtala-Ibrahim added that tasks have been assigned to different teams and states to ensure the implementation of innovative ideas shared.  

Some staff who participated at the review meeting including Strategic Information Managers in Katsina and FCT, Mr. Mohammed Usman and Mrs. Chigozie Nwafor, said that the meeting has equipped them with strategies to improve on program deliverables.

“We have looked at the changes in program implementation and patient management to guide data use. When we talk about data, data represents people hence the need to improve data and patient care,” Mrs. Nwafor said.

IHVN Celebrates August Employees of the Month

In fostering an excellent work culture and staff performance, the Executive Management of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has initiated the “Employee Recognition Awards” to recognize “Employees of the Month” and “Employee of the Year.”

According to the IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi, this recognition covers overall employee performance in dressing, innovation, teamwork, productivity, efficiency, leadership and interpersonal skills, punctuality, and adherence to company values and principles, amongst other things.

For August 2025, IHVN celebrates Chioma Ofoegbu, Kazeem Ayodeji, Oluremi Are, Adeyemo David Adeyemi, Margaret Gberikon, Grace Ella, Kemi Akinyede, Barine Mark Jones, Hafsat Abdulazeez Jimoh, Umar Usman and Gideon Enoch, whose performance stood out in their teams.

Hearty cheers to our August star performers!

Bid Advert | Maintenance Work within thePortacabin for TB LAMP Installation at National hospital, Abuja under GF N-THRIP grant | 15th September

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria is seeking bidders to bid for the Maintenance
Work within the Portacabin for TB LAMP Installation at National hospital, Abuja under GF N-THRIP grant.
Opening Date/ Time:15th September 2025
Closing Date/ Time:6th October 2025 @10:00am
For more on this bid, kindly download the complete bid document,Click here to download  the bidding document
Click here to download  the BOQ document

IHVN Calls for Stronger Investment in Research to Combat Viral Threats

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has emphasized the need for increased investment in health research and stronger collaboration with government and international partners to address viral threats and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for future pandemics.

 This call was made during a press briefing at the IHVN Campus ahead of the 3rd International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) Annual Scientific Symposium International Research, featuring the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, the Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, and the IRCE Executive Director, Professor Alash’le Abimiku.

Speaking at the event, Professor Abimiku explained that this year’s symposium focus is on viral threats to public health. She noted that outbreaks such as COVID-19, diphtheria, and lassa fever continue to challenge the country’s health systems.

“Unless we come together to understand the viruses that put us at risk, we will continue to face repeated outbreaks. The key question remains: if another pandemic hits, are we prepared?” she said. According to her, IHVN’s research examines how viruses change, spread, and impact populations, while also working with policymakers to ensure findings influence national health policies.

Dr. Dakum added that collaboration with government is central to IHVN’s work. From formulating research questions to disseminating results, policymakers are involved to ensure findings translate into real-world solutions. He cited the example of HIV service delivery, where IHVN research on providing services at the community level helped inform the policy of decentralizing HIV care across Nigeria. “If you do not inform policy, you cannot scale up findings beyond research sites,” he noted.

Also at the event, IHVN Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah stressed the need for domestic financing for research, stating, “If health budgets do not allocate at least 10–30% for research, we won’t go far. Implementation without science cannot succeed.” He added that IHVN continues to seek grants, collaborate with local partners, and advocate for private sector involvement in research financing.

Looking ahead, Dr. Mensah announced that IHVN is constructing a 1,000-seater Learning and Development Centre to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange with global researchers. “We want the world to see that we are not just a local organization, but an international institution of excellence,” he said.