SHORT TERM CONSULTANCY (STC)/ETB TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO NATIONAL CENTER FOR TUBERCULOSIS AND LEPROSY CONTROL IN CAMBODIA

BACKGROUND

Progress made by Cambodia’s National TB program has been significant. The incidence rate of TB all forms has fallen from 575 per 100,000 populations in year 2000 to 345 per 100,000 populations in 2016, which equal to 40% reduction. TB mortality rate dropped from 42 per 100,000 populations in year 2000 to 20 per 100,000 populations in year 2016, which equal to 52% reduction. However, Cambodia remains one among 30 countries with high burden of tuberculosis in the world. TB cases notification were 34, 467 among estimated incident 52,000 cases in 2017. There are gaps 34% of missing cases not yet identified. There were estimated 1.8% of TB cases with Multidrug-/rifampicin Resistant (MDR /RR-TB) among new cases and 11% among previously treated cases. Treatment coverage is 66% with the 94% success rate among new and relapse cases (cases registered in 2016) and 71% among MDR/RR-TB cases (cases registered in 2015). TB preventive treatment among child (aged < 5 years) household contacts of bacteriology confirmed is 44% in 2017.

National TB program had been committed to respond to TB issues, with support from the Global Fund and USAID, local and International NGOs had been working to contribute to the national TB response including maintaining and expanding TB prevention, routine/active case findings, TB children, MDR TB and Treatment of latent TB infection.

To reach End TB goal, there is need to continue effort to fill the gaps through scaling up high quality integrated patient-centered TB care and prevention including strengthening early diagnosis of tuberculosis with better use of diagnostic algorithm and technology and are implemented through systemic contact screening, routine case findings, hospital linkage and semi or active case finding among high-risk groups, and early access to treatment and care. Efforts are needed on strengthening programmatic management of drug- resistance TB including early Drug - Resistant TB detection, access of universal drug susceptibility testing and  increasing uptake innovations including new drugs and novel regiment. There is necessity to keep updating treatment guidelines per latest WHO recommendation for treatment of MDR and Latent TB Infection, maintaining good treatment success rate for new and relapse and improving more treatment success among Drug resistant TB. 

Assessment of intervention and program review are crucial to review the success, lessons learned, bottle necks to better prepare for more effective and innovative approaches. In addition, intensifying research and innovation to promote the use of new diagnostic tool, interventions, strategies to generate evidence for policy formulation and implementation are also important.

The WHO consultant should, therefore, engage with government and non-state actors at all levels for evidence generating and evidence based decision, policy formulation, and implementation monitoring and evaluation. In addition to the following expected outcomes, the consultant are expected to perform other related duty as required and work with National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) and non-state actors in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Control of TB 2014-2020 and the updated 2021-2030.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The World Health Organization (WHO) would like to recruit an experienced and dynamic Short term consultant to provide technical support to National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control in Cambodia. During working period, consultant will work closely Team Leader of Communicable Disease, Country office, Coordinator of End TB and Leprosy Unit Division of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Western Pacific, and National Center for TB and Leprosy Control to achieve the following expected outputs.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date:  01 August 2020

End date:  31 May 2021

Work to be performed:

Collaborates with the Team Leader of Communicable Disease/ National technical officer in Country office, WHO Head Quarter and Western Pacific Region (WPRO), National Centre for TB and Leprosy Control (CENAT) and key stakeholders, the consultant will: 

1. Support CENAT to update national guidelines/SOP upon the WHO recommendations including but not limited to Private Public Partnership (PPM), MDR TB treatment, aDSM, TB treatment Prevention, and where necessary, support rolling out implementation of these new recommendations and strategic intervention; 
2. Support the improvement and strengthening case finding to close the gaps of missing case, focusing on both active and passive case findings strategies including but not limited to the strengthening specimen referral system for case identification;
3. Support strengthening the monitoring system for addressing adverse effects and pharmacovigilance for the newly introduced TB medicines and regimens for drug-resistant TB. Besides, collaboration with the Department of Drug and Food and cosmetics (DDF for causality assessment pharmacovigilance newly introduced TB);
4. Provide technical assistance on research implementation including developing a national research protocol, the functioning of research working group and working with a partner to support national TB program on the development and implementation of some researches based on priority agenda; and
5. Provide technical support to link TB interventions with the broader health systems platform for better disease outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1:  The updated national TB guideline/SOP based on the new WHO recommendations including but not limited to PPM and the rolling out implementation of these new recommendations and strategic intervention

• • Deliverable 1.1: In consultation with WPRO, WHO CO, facilitate with CENAT and key stake holders to update the national guidelines/SOP  and strategic intervention including but not limited to PPM
• • Deliverable 1.2: Participated field visit and rolling out the implementation of new drug introduction (3HP) for TB prevention and PPM intervention

Output 2:  Strengthened both active and passive case findings strategies including improved specimen referral system for case identification

• • Deliverable 2.1: Take the lead to coordinate with CENAT, stakeholders and to implement recommendations of program reviews for active and passive TB case findings
• • Deliverable 2.2:   Review and improve the specimen referral system mechanism 
• • Deliverable 2.3:  Document of the lesson learned and best practice of TB case findings and specimen referral system for scale up the intervention

Output 3:  Strengthened monitoring system for addressing adverse effects and pharmacovigilance for the newly introduced TB medicines and regimens for drug-resistant TB. 

• • Deliverable 3.1: Work with CENAT, the Department of Drug and Food and cosmetics, MoH, and stakeholders to ensure the monitoring system of the report of Severe Adverse TB Drug Side Effect and pharmacovigilance for the newly introduced TB medicines and regimens for drug-resistant TB are implemented and regular reported. 
• • Deliverable 3.2. Provide technical support to CENAT to coordinate with the Department of Drug, Food and cosmetic, MoH to strengthen functional pharmacovigilance mechanisms for new Anti TB drugs

Output 4: Developed national research protocol, the functioning of the research working group, and the implementation of any researches based on priority agenda.

• • Deliverable 4.1: Take the lead in discussion with CENAT and key stakeholders to develop a national research protocol 
• • Deliverable 4.2: Take the lead and facilitate for well-functioning of research working group 
• • Deliverable 4.3: work with CENAT and partner implement researches defined by CENAT 

Output 5: Well linked TB interventions with the broader health systems platform for better disease outcomes, cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

• • Deliverable 5.1: Work closely with CENAT and stakeholders to review the current link of TB interventions within a broader health system 
• • Deliverable 5.2: Strengthened, improved and sustain TB disease outcome through this linkage

Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

• Responsible Officer: National Professional Officer for HIV, KHM/HSI
• Manager: Communicable Disease Team Leader

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

• • Essential: University degree in medicine from a recognized institution and Master or post-graduate degree in public health.  Training in tuberculosis programmes.
• • Desirable: National program assessment/ review, strategic development, managerial training or TB epidemiology research

EXPERIENCE

• • Essential: Minimum of 7 years of experience in public health, especially experience in tuberculosis control programme.
• • Desirable:  Work experience in public health in developing countries, experience in planning, developing and evaluating tuberculosis programmes

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, methodology and techniques in public health, including knowledge of TB prevention and control interventions
• • Skills in the management of TB programmes
• • Experiences in development of national strategic plans for TB control, operational research related to TB.

LANGUAGES

Fluent in written/spoken English

COMPETENCIES

1. Communicating in a credible and effective way
2. Producing results
3. Moving forward in a changing environment
4. Fostering integration and teamwork
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of assignment: WHO Cambodia

The consultant is expected to travel to provinces at the field implementing level based on needed.

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 15 June 2020. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 108896 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.