Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.

The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) is an interdisciplinary national ageing cohort study established to generate high-quality evidence on the health, cognitive function, environmental exposures, economic wellbeing, and social circumstances of adults aged 45 years and older in Kenya. Around the world, people are living longer, but in Sub-Saharan Africa there hasn't been much research on how people age, what helps or harms them as they get older, or how an ageing population affects society. Kenya's population is ageing faster than most countries in the region, highlighting an urgent need for nationally representative data to inform public health planning, social protection, healthy ageing policies, and health system strengthening. LOSHAK follows the same approach as the international Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) networks, which comprise of more than 52 ageing studies worldwide, enabling cross-national comparisons of ageing, cognitive health, and associated determinants. The study is jointly led by Aga Khan University East Africa (AKU-EA) and the University of Michigan (UM), in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and county governments.

LOSHAK-Core Wave 1 represents the first national implementation of these validated and contextually adapted instruments in Kenya. It is designed as a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 45 years and above across all 47 counties in Kenya and will form the baseline cohort for future follow-up waves. Prior to national rollout, pilot study will be conducted in eight counties to refine study procedures, evaluate operational feasibility, optimize data collection systems, and validate field implementation protocols.

The phlebotomist will measure blood pressure as well as collecting blood specimens following standardized procedures, they ensure that all equipment and blood collection supplies are properly calibrated, functional and sanitized before and after use, maintaining strict hygiene and safety standards throughout fieldwork. The health worker monitors participants for any abnormal findings during anthropometric assessments or blood collection and follows established referral protocols to report such cases appropriately to supervisors and issue a participant a referral form directing them to the nearest appropriate health facility for follow up care. All referrals will be documented in the participant records and reported to the secretariat as part of the daily field report. The biomarker technician will provide the participant with a result card for the immediate tests including blood pressure, height and weight. Once the blood analysis has been concluded, the results will be sent to the participant and if the results are above thresholds, the participant will be encouraged to seek medical attention.

The phlebotomist will support the enumerator during household visits to: (a) responding to health-related questions raised by the participants or their household during the interview; (b) clarifying the purpose and procedure for health assessments prior to their administration; (c) managing any medical concerns or adverse reactions that arise during blood draws or measurements; and (d) completing the referral form and escalating urgent cases to the field supervisor immediately.

Job Summary.

The purpose of this role is to support data collection, i.e. conduct household interviews, collecting and processing venous blood samples for the LOSHAK study in the following counties Kakamega, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Kitui, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru & Wajir.

Terms of Reference

• To attend and complete the training and pass the certification as required.
• To collect venous blood samples and other health measures as per the outlined study SOPs.
• Ensure sample quality during temporary storage at local labs and transportation by following the SOPs regulating collection and storage.
• To follow the study protocols as per the training.
• To follow all ethical standards of venous blood drawing as outlined during the training.
• To keep safe and secure all equipment and consumables assigned to you used for data collection and return the same to AKU at the end of the data collection period.
• Revisit respondents for validation/back check as needed.
• To participate in regular, debrief meetings as will be instructed by the supervisors.
• Not engage in any other activity that may cause a conflict of interest or compromise the study in any way while executing this assignment.
• Document daily summary report which you will submit to the supervisor.
• De-escalate and manage all situations within your control and escalate to Field supervisor those requiring his/her input and direction.
• Ensure confidentiality of all project information and participants data in alignment with data protection Act, 2019.

Requirements

• Minimum diploma in laboratory science, nursing or clinical medicine.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience.
• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and local dialect.
• Previous experience in surveys and field work.
• Proficiency in ICT and computer/tablet usage and associated applications.
• Previous work in national surveys led by KNBS
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Culturally adaptable and sensitive.

• To attend and complete the training and pass the certification as required.
• To collect venous blood samples and other health measures as per the outlined study SOPs.
• Ensure sample quality during temporary storage at local labs and transportation by following the SOPs regulating collection and storage.
• To follow the study protocols as per the training.
• To follow all ethical standards of venous blood drawing as outlined during the training.
• To keep safe and secure all equipment and consumables assigned to you used for data collection and return the same to AKU at the end of the data collection period.
• Revisit respondents for validation/back check as needed.
• To participate in regular, debrief meetings as will be instructed by the supervisors.
• Not engage in any other activity that may cause a conflict of interest or compromise the study in any way while executing this assignment.
• Document daily summary report which you will submit to the supervisor.
• De-escalate and manage all situations within your control and escalate to Field supervisor those requiring his/her input and direction.
• Ensure confidentiality of all project information and participants data in alignment with data protection Act, 2019.

• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and local dialect.
• Previous experience in surveys and field work.
• Proficiency in ICT and computer/tablet usage and associated applications.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Culturally adaptable and sensitive.

• Minimum diploma in laboratory science, nursing or clinical medicine.
• Previous work in national surveys led by KNBS