Erick Orwa
Laboratory Technologist
Kisumu
Summary
Results-driven Health and Laboratory Specialist with 8+ years of experience advancing HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and research programs across health facilities and communities. Skilled in HTS and prevention optimization, PrEP scale-up, partner notification services, social network strategy, and community–facility linkage, consistently achieving over 95% linkage-to-care rates and exceeding donor targets. Adept at mentorship, quality assurance, and data-driven program management, with proven success in building the capacity of health providers and strengthening health systems in alignment with MoH and donor standards. Recognized for technical expertise in laboratory diagnostics, molecular biology (PCR, ELISA), and entomological research, contributing to both programmatic excellence, and scientific innovation.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
HTS & Prevention Program Associate
USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto | PATH
Kakamega, Kenya
11.2022 - 02.2025
- Organized and oversaw the effective implementation of HIV Testing Services (HTS) strategies, including partner notification services, social network strategies, and PrEP across multiple service delivery points and facilities, increasing service efficiency and adherence to MoH guidelines by 30% through targeted training, mentorship, and supervision of providers.
- Improved patient care pathways and eligibility testing systems for children, adolescents, and adults, ensuring 100% linkage of HIV-positive clients to treatment, and scaling up PrEP provision in supported programs.
- Enhanced integrated service delivery by introducing structured screening for TB, IPV, PEP, PrEP, and VMMC within HTS, leading to a 25% increase in timely referrals and linkages to appropriate services.
- Strengthened the quality of HIV testing services by implementing internal and external quality assurance systems (PT, observed practice, RTCQI), resulting in a 95% pass rate in national proficiency testing rounds.
- Institutionalized continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes for HTS and PrEP, improving performance in low-performing facilities, and ensuring consistent, data-driven interventions.
- Supported accurate and timely data reporting (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly) through the adoption of digital systems (e-HTS), reducing reporting errors by 40% and enhancing program monitoring and evaluation.
- Facilitated regular supervision and counseling sessions for HTS providers, improving adherence to MoH standards, and enhancing provider capacity.
- Led outcome evaluations for e-HTS and PrEP programs, generating actionable recommendations that informed program adjustments, and strengthened overall service delivery.
- Prepared and submitted timely budgets, work plans, and technical reports, ensuring 100% compliance with donor and MoH reporting requirements.
- Represented the program in county, national, and donor forums, strengthening partnerships with government and stakeholders to enhance program visibility and alignment with national HIV goals.
HTS Program Assistant
USAID Boresha Jamii | PATH
Kakamega, Kenya
06.2022 - 09.2022
- Supported the successful implementation of Partner Notification Services (PNS), achieving an average of 3–4 sexual partners elicited and tested per index client, ensuring 100% documentation and reporting across the PNS cascade.
- Provided daily mentorship to supported health facilities, strengthening HIV testing strategies such as HTS eligibility screening, PNS for high-priority clients (newly identified, high viral load, KP), and HIV self-testing, resulting in a 20% increase in case identification.
- Improved linkage to care by closely following up on referrals, bridging enrolment gaps, and ensuring all identified HIV-positive clients were promptly initiated on treatment.
- Conducted regular reviews of HTS, PNS, and Linkage registers, identifying quality gaps and implementing corrective actions, which reduced data discrepancies by 35% and improved service quality.
- Ensured full-scale implementation of PNS among PMTCT and STF clients, and coordinated annual updates for all ART index clients, strengthening partner elicitation, and follow-up systems.
- Collaborated with HTS Technical Leads, Laboratory Officers, and County/Sub-County Laboratory Coordinators to coordinate proficiency testing (PT), achieving a >95% pass rate across supported sites, and implementing corrective measures for unsatisfactory results.
- Optimized PrEP service delivery across all entry points, increasing uptake among at-risk populations by 25%.
- Monitored and analyzed HTS indicators across supported facilities, providing targeted mentorship that enabled facilities to consistently meet and exceed donor targets.
HTS Mentor
USAID Boresha Jamii | JOOUST (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University)
Kakamega, Kenya
08.2021 - 05.2022
- Strengthened HIV Testing Services (HTS) and community linkage in supported sub-counties by coordinating index testing and referral networks, resulting in improved linkage-to-care rates above 95%.
- Planned, supervised, and ensured high-quality implementation of HIV interventions across project-supported facilities, raising service delivery quality scores by 20% through mentorship and supportive supervision.
- Enhanced the capacity of facility teams by disseminating MoH guidelines, implementing quality assurance initiatives, and scaling up HTS optimization and Partner Notification Services (PNS), leading to a 30% increase in case identification.
- Led the development, implementation, and monitoring of costed work plans at the project, sub-county, and facility levels, ensuring 100% alignment with donor and MoH objectives.
- Coordinated timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports, achieving 100% reporting compliance for project indicators.
- Strengthened facility-community linkages by building referral networks that improved service integration, contributing to measurable improvements in health outcomes.
- Supported effective collaboration with Sub-County Health Management Teams (SCHMT), ensuring alignment of project activities with county health priorities, and enhancing ownership at the local level.
HTS Mentor
USAID Ampathplus | Healthstrat
Kakamega, Kenya
01.2019 - 07.2021
- Strengthened HIV prevention services (HTS, PrEP, community linkage, and index testing) in supported sub-counties, achieving over 95% linkage-to-care rates by coordinating project teams and streamlining service delivery.
- Planned, implemented, and supervised facility-level HIV interventions in collaboration with Sub-County Health Management Teams (SCHMT), ensuring 100% compliance with MoH and donor quality standards.
- Provided targeted mentorship and technical support to HTS providers, aPNS champions, and eligibility screeners, improving service quality, and increasing HIV case identification by 25%.
- Scaled-up HTS optimization and partner notification services through mentorship, supervision, and guideline dissemination, resulting in enhanced uptake of HIV testing and PrEP among priority populations.
- Led the development and monitoring of costed work plans at the project, sub-county, and facility levels, ensuring alignment with donor objectives and the timely achievement of set targets.
- Coordinated timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, maintaining 100% reporting compliance, and improving data-driven program reviews.
- Established and strengthened facility-community referral networks, increasing the efficiency of linkage systems, and improving overall health outcomes for HIV-positive clients.
- Facilitated routine performance reviews (monthly to annual), objectively tracking program progress, and implementing adaptive strategies in collaboration with SCHMT.
- Prepared project sites for supportive supervision and SIMS assessments, ensuring 100% implementation of recommendations, and improved facility-level performance.
- Actively participated in capacity-building initiatives and technical updates.
HTS Counsellor
USAID AphiaPlus Western Kenya
Kakamega, Kenya
07.2017 - 12.2018
- Created awareness and delivered HIV education sessions, reaching diverse client populations, and improving the uptake of HTS by 25% through tailored counselling and health talks.
- Provided comprehensive pre- and post-test counselling to all clients, ensuring informed consent, improved knowledge on HIV prevention methods, and enhanced psychosocial support for newly diagnosed clients.
- Encouraged and supported HIV-positive clients, improving coping and retention to care by linking 100% of new diagnoses to treatment and support services.
- Maintained accurate HTS records using MOH-approved tools, ensuring 100% compliance with NASCOP and donor reporting requirements through timely, monthly reports.
- Participated in HTS quality assurance activities (PT, counselling supervision, and batch testing of rapid kits), achieving greater than 95% proficiency scores, and strengthening testing accuracy.
- Implemented Assisted Partner Notification Services (aPNS) ethically and confidentially, leading to a 3:1 elicitation ratio, and successful testing of traced partners.
- Ensured the availability and use of IEC materials, job aids, and SOPs at HTS sites, which enhanced client education and improved service quality.
- Strengthened case management and multidisciplinary coordination with other health service providers, improving linkage, retention, and overall client health outcomes.
Laboratory Technologist
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
Kisumu, Kenya
01.2015 - 06.2016
- Conducted basic laboratory investigations for disease diagnosis, contributing to accurate detection and management of priority conditions, with over 95% result accuracy.
- Collected, preserved, and tested biological samples for research projects, ensuring high-quality data generation that supported multiple ongoing studies.
- Operated, calibrated, and maintained laboratory equipment, reducing downtime by 30%, and ensuring reliable and consistent test results.
- Applied molecular biology techniques (PCR and ELISA), improving detection sensitivity and specificity in disease surveillance studies.
- Performed immunological assays in cell cultures, supporting experimental research, and advancing understanding of host–pathogen interactions.
- Led field entomological activities, collecting mosquito vectors using aspiration and PSC methods, yielding representative samples for epidemiological analysis.
- Executed entomological techniques in mosquito identification and rearing, ensuring accurate species classification that informed vector control interventions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - B.S in Applied Health (Public Health)
Brigham Young University - Idaho (Online)
06-2027
Diploma in Applied Biology
The Kisumu National Polytechnic
11-2015
Skills
- Quality assurance
- Program management, monitoring, and evaluation
- Capacity building
- Data tools and systems (M&E systems and EMR)
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Mentorship and training
- Advanced Microsoft Office
- Immunological, entomological, and molecular biology techniques
- Laboratory diagnostics and equipment operations, calibration, and maintenance
- Data reporting
Languages
English
First Language
Swahili
Proficient (C2)
C2
Certification
- Certificate in 3 Tier Testing Algorithm for TOT - NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in HIV prevention, M&E tools - University of Nairobi| NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in PMTCT M&E tools - 2024 - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in Care and Treatment M&E Tools - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in HIV commodities M&E tools - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in Data Quality Assessment, University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2024
- Certificate in HIV case-based surveillance data protocol - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2022
- Certificate in U.S. family planning and abortion requirement - Global Health eLearning Centre 2022
- Certificate in HIV Recent Infection Surveillance - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2021
- Certificate in HIV Exposed Infant (HEI) Cohort Analysis - University of Nairobi | NASCOP 2021
- Certificate in COVID-19 vaccine training for HCWs in Kenya - Amref Health Africa, 2021
- Certificate in HIV Testing Services, Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors| NASCOP 2016
Tools
- Lean, Kaizen, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Asana, Zapier, Make.com, SPSS, Power BI, Google Analytics, M&E Systems
References
References available upon request.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkInternshipGig WorkLocation Preference
RemoteOn-SiteSalary Range
$45000/yr - $100000/yrImportant To Me
Career advancementFlexible work hoursPersonal development programsCompany CultureWork-life balanceQuote
There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.
Tony Robbins
Accomplishments
- Mentorship & Capacity Building: Trained and mentored over 120 HTS counsellors across 12 sub-counties, resulting in a 32% increase in correct linkage-to-care documentation within 6 months.
- Program Implementation & Monitoring: Oversaw HTS and PNS service rollout in over 60 facilities, leading to a 23% rise in HIV case identification and 98% linkage to care.
- Data Quality & Decision Making: Led monthly reviews of HTS data tools and corrected inconsistencies that reduced data errors by 41%.
- Innovation in Health Strategies: Championed Social Network Strategy (SNS) and self-testing protocols, identifying 212 hidden positives within 8 months—surpassing targets by 34%.
Timeline
HTS & Prevention Program Associate
USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto | PATH
11.2022 - 02.2025
HTS Program Assistant
USAID Boresha Jamii | PATH
06.2022 - 09.2022
HTS Mentor
USAID Boresha Jamii | JOOUST (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University)
08.2021 - 05.2022
HTS Mentor
USAID Ampathplus | Healthstrat
01.2019 - 07.2021
HTS Counsellor
USAID AphiaPlus Western Kenya
07.2017 - 12.2018
Laboratory Technologist
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
01.2015 - 06.2016
Bachelor of Science - B.S in Applied Health (Public Health)
Brigham Young University - Idaho (Online)
Diploma in Applied Biology
The Kisumu National Polytechnic
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