Medical Officer, MCTHP

Medical Officer, MCTHP

Location: Port Moresby, PNG

Commencement: November 2026

Duration of contract: Up to 31 December 2027

Open to PNG Citizens only

About the Program

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is among the 30 highest-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). Children account for more than 20% of reported TB cases, almost double the global average of 11%, and HIV incidence is rising, particularly among women of reproductive age. Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) carries much of this burden. In 2025 it recorded its highest-ever number of child TB cases (~1,200), diagnosed and started on treatment, many of them who reside in the NCD but also referred from Central, Gulf and other provinces.

The Maternal-Child TB/HIV Project (MCTHP) is implemented by the Paediatric Society of PNG (PSPNG) in partnership with PMGH and the UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences. It is managed by the PNG-Australia Transition to Health (PATH) program with support from the Australian Government. Its aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality from TB, HIV and TB-related malnutrition among children and mothers in PNG.

About the Opportunity

The project is recruiting a TB&HIV Medical Officer (MO) to support its current priorities:

• strengthening the TB/HIV cascade of care
• expanding TB preventive treatment (TPT) among children with HIV
• re-engaging children living with HIV who have been lost to follow-up
• preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV
• decentralising care for children with HIV & TB
• Support the MCTHP team in the diagnosis and care of peri-natal women in the O&G unit with presumptive and active TB disease

The MO will work primarily in the Paediatric Well Baby Clinic alongside a team. providing clinical care to children with HIV and integrating TB services such as TPT. MO will have support from other HCW’s and MO will be asked to provide direction and leadership to the team

Beyond PMGH, the MO will run regular outreach to NCD Basic Management Units (BMUs). There they will mentor clinic staff so that children with HIV and/or TB can receive care closer to their home with fewer hospital visits for their families. This will be done with training and support from the MCTHP and PHA partners (NCD-PHA, CP-PHA, etc). The MO will also visit antenatal and HIV clinics to strengthen prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and referral pathways for HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children, and will support outreach to PHA’s

Key Responsibilities

The expected outcomes are:

• Clinical care of children and families affected by TB and HIV

• Oversee that the proper registers (contact tracing, presumptive TB, preventive therapy) are filled out and completed. This will be done in conjunction of other members of the team

• Deliver activity reports and contribution to projects report and presentation, as demonstrated in data recording, analysis and reported on time and to a professional standard

• Support O&G Colleagues for workup and management of peri-natal women with presumptive TB

• Provide outreach support to provinces outside of the NCD in conjunction of other members of the team

• Maintained strong and productive relationships with key staff and counterparts and received satisfactory feedback on performance.

• Key working relationships

• The MO will report directly to MCTHP Program Manager and will be accountable to the MCTHP SMO & PMGH Paediatric Coordinator

• The MO will be based at PMGH and help coordinate activities between the paediatric HIV clinic (Well Baby Clinic), the JBK TB Clinic and the maternal TB team. As such, the MO will report to and work closely with different departments (Paediatric, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology) at PMGH

• MO will provide leadership and oversight to the MCTHP and PMGH team to carry out activities

• Perform fine needle aspiration and gastric aspiration when required

• Implement nutrition assessment (MUAC, WFH) indicators at paediatric WBC

• Attend routine management meetings

• Compile and collect project data and ensure accuracy, and provide write up and reports when needed (annual reports, etc)

• About You

• For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided.

• Strong experience with minimum of 2 years experience as Medical Officer

• Must be a qualified Medical Officer with additional higher qualifications in O&G will be considered an advantage.

• Exceptional communication skills in building relationships with partners and clients and a proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.