Adolescent Health Specialist

Job highlights

• Cameroon is known as “Africa in Minature,” boasting a diverse array ofcultures, languages, and foods. Over 240 languages are spoken in Cameroon, a bilingual country with French (most predominant) and English being the two official languages spoken. EGPAF in the East and South, Regions of Cameroon (funded by Centers for Disease Control & prevention (CDC) Cameroon), have requested the support of a Peace Corps Response (PCRV) to serve as an Adolescent Health Specialist. In collaboration with Peace Corps Cameroon, EGPAF (referred to as “host institution” onwards) are seeking to improve the quality of youth/adolescent programs provided both at the health facilities where they work and at community level through the placement of Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRV) in the South, East Regions.
• Cameroon is facing a mixed epidemic, both generalized and concentrated in certain groups of most at risk populations. The overall HIV prevalence among the adult population aged 15-49 is 2.7% according to the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS-V of 2018). The DHS 2018, shows that 06 out of 10 regions have a prevalence above the national average (2.7%), namely: South 5.8%, the East 5.6%, Adamawa 4.7%, North-West 4%, South-West 3.2% and Centre 3.5%. Prevalence among adolescents and young people 15–24-year-olds is 1.2%, with a prevalence being nine times higher amongst girls (2.0%) than boys (0.4%). According to UNICEF in 2022, 15 children out of 100 acquire HIV vertically), 43.4% of infants born to pregnant women with HIV were not tested within two months of birth, and 16.6% of pregnant women left ANC clinics without knowing their status. Treatment adherence and retention in care remains the major challenge in adolescent HIV support. Adolescent tailored support is limited in quality and quantity, with staff reporting limited capacity and resources to provide youth-friendly services. Teenage pregnancy remains high, increasing the risk of vertical transmission. HIV testing is lowest amongst youth as compared to other population subgroups.
• In collaboration with host institution staff and community health stakeholders, the PCRV will promote education on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention, psychosocial support, life skills development, youth sexual and reproductive health education, and HIV prevention related activities that mobilize youth into HIV testing services. In addition, PCRVs will support maternal and child health interventions particularly prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, education for teenage mothers, and nutrition education for malnourished ALHIV, pregnant women and children of breastfeeding women. Other interventions include home visits, promoting and facilitating youth-friendly services, “treatment-as-prevention” messaging and safe space creation for youth-tailored education activities. The Volunteer will work in close collaboration with psychosocial support agents, clinical care providers to implement activities with community health agents, community groups, youth associations, and youth clubs. PCV will work to create adapted visual aids adapted for adolescents, organize individual or small group-based life skills, positive living and YSRH activities using participatory methodologies. He/she will support other non-clinical activities as necessary. The goal is to improve ALHIV, teenage pregnant mothers adherence to treatment, demand for HIV testing services and help to build trust as well between service providers and youth.