Anova is an NGO that empowers people and changes lives. Good health and quality of life is what motivates us to provide healthcare solutions and support for those who need it most.

Anova’s Jab Smart project was set up in late-2017 to respond to HIV among people who use drugs (PWUD) in City of Johannesburg (COJ). PWUD are at particular risk of HIV and suffer high levels of stigma and prejudice, often being denied access to essential health services. Jab Smart is a peer-led project that provides a range of harm reduction services to PWUD. The project is implemented together with the COJ Health District, and it is supported by Global Fund through its partner NACOSA.

Anova is looking for Peer Educators that are knowledgeable about the drug-using scene and popular sites to promote health services to PWUD clients in COJ. The project is based on the idea that peer-to-peer contact among PWUD increases receptivity of clients.

As a peer educator you will meet with PWUD in private, at all times respecting their confidentiality, to offer them access to comprehensive services including a needle and syringe programme, HIV testing, TB screening and comprehensive sexual health treatment, and, where relevant, refer clients to Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST).

To qualify you will need to successfully complete a short training course on HIV and sexual health and be deemed competent.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Peer Mobilisation

• Recruit at least 80 clients each month to introduce the programme and the available services.
• Do risk assessment to those 80 clients reached each month.
• Refer those 80 clients to Nurses, HTS, Linkage Officers, Advocacy officer, and the Social Auxiliary Worker.

Field Support

• Provide harm reduction information and package to at least 80 clients monthly.
• Manage your cohort and ensure they are provided with services and report to the coordinator to update your register.

Mapping

• Identify at least two new sites monthly.
• All the sites must be added to your mapping tool.

Debriefing and Counselling Sessions

• Ensure that you attend social debriefing and give monthly feedback to the coordinator.
• Ensure that you attend psychosocial counselling and give monthly feedback to the coordinator.

Any other tasks as agreed with line manager.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required

• Grade 12.
• Must have numeracy and literacy skills.
• An ability to establish trust and communicate effectively with active drug users.
• Ability to follow strict confidentiality requirements.
• An ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Punctual and reliable.
• Prior knowledge of HIV/AIDS and a recognised HIV counselling certificate would be an advantage.