SHORT TERM CONSULTANCY (STC) – Epidemiologist for TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO NATIONAL MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAMME IN LAO PDR
BACKGROUND
In the discussion with the Centre for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE), Lao PDR it was agreed that WHO should strengthen its role in technical support at the provincial level to:
- Strengthen program coordination and ensure full implementation of Malaria National Strategic Plan interventions; and
- Support implementation of an aggressive approach to impacting malaria transmission and depleting parasite reservoirs in populations with the highest risk of exposure to malaria.
In order to fulfill this role, WHO is recruiting an epidemiologist to support the 2 x UNV Provincial Malaria Officers that are both deployed to support the five southern high malaria incidence provinces. This position will be supervised by the international Technical Officer (Team Leader for Malaria, TB and HIV) and will work closely with the two malaria National Officers.
Duration: from 1 Oct 2020 until 31 Dec 2020
The epidemiologist consultant will be expected to travel an extensive amount of time in the five high burden provinces (Salavan, Savanakhet, Sekong, Champassack, Attapue) and will support and coordinate activities with implementing partners at Provincial, District, health facillity and community levels.
PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- Support subnational program coordination and ensure full implementation of Malaria National Strategic Plan interventions, especially within the malaria surveillance and response work stream; and
- Support implementation of the aggressive interventions that are being deployed in the highest burden areas with the objective of depleting parasite reservoirs in populations with increased risk of malaria.
- Conduct regular epidemiological analysis, mapping and reporting of malaria transmission, focusing on administrative areas and villages that are included in the malaria enhanced response plan, in order to drive the necessary supervision and follow up by the program.
- Support CMPE to define and supervise aggressive active screening and testing interventions focused on populations and locations with highest risk of malaria in order to deplete the parasite reservoir.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Output 1 - Surveillance and response coordination, programme management: Improve coordination among partners supporting malaria surveillance and response, particularly in terms of malaria linkages into the national public health emergency operations centre (PHEOC). Improve programme management at the provincial level.
- Activity 1: Strengthen coordination amongst partners and ensure optimal implementation of surveillance and response activities and the routine reporting of these activities into the PHEOC;
- Activity 2: Build program management capacity at the provincial and district levels;
- Activity 3: Participate in subnational visits with CMPE and partners as required;
- Activity 4: Work with WHO subnational UNVs to produce a monthly technical report on program implementation progress, outcomes and practical findings with next steps;
Output 2 - Enhanced surveillance and response (including timeliness, data analysis, reporting, data quality, response implementation, response reporting, follow up): Epidemiological analysis and mapping of cases and transmission areas. Technical support on enhanced surveillance, specifically timeliness of reporting and data analysis for decision making followed by an appropriate response. Improve surveillance data quality assessment and validation processes to ensure data reliability.
- Activity 1: Work with UNVs, CMPE and WHO CO staff to develop a monthly epi report summarising key data from the DHIS2 management dashboards, particularly the enhanced surveillance and outbreak response data. The report should also include data management issues and corrective actions needed to improve quality of malaria data reported.
- Activity 2: Build capacity of CMPE, provincial and district malaria programs and supporting CSOs to independently perform monthly epidemiological analysis (including mapping) and routine reports to better identify transmission areas.
- Activity 3: Technical support on outbreak response interventions, including timely identification, planning, response and reporting.
- Activity 4: Evaluation of active case detection activities. Based on these evaluations provide recommendations to improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness and impact of this intervention.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY AND LIST OF OUTPUTS
The consultant will travel routinely to the provinces and will be responsible to support the program and partners to reach the following deliverable:
Output 1: Surveillance and response coordination, programme management
- • Deliverable 1.1: Develop a plan and organize monthly coordination meetings at targeted District malaria offices with key central and provincial malaria staff plus WHO UNVs and CSOs. Identify gaps and challenges for current/future program implementation of the enhanced surveillance and outbreak response activities, as well as coordination at province and district levels;
- • Deliverable 1.2: Conduct monthly assessment and provide a report on the performance and functionality of targeted public health facilities and VMWs, focusing on:
- routine diagnosis and treatment (quality assurance)
- surveillance data reporting (both PCD and ACD);
- utilization of services, payments and monthly HC meeting attendance by VMWs;
- stock level of Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDTs), Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), primaquine, G6PD tests at Provincial, OD and HC levels;
- compliance of health facilities and VMWs with national treatment guidelines;
- • Deliverable 1.3: Support CMPE to conduct monthly surveillance technical working group meetings to present and discuss key issues with UNOPS, CSOs and other partners.
- • Deliverable 1.4: Work with CMPE to develop systematic weekly reporting to the PHEOC on outbreaks and program response in high burden areas.
Output 2: Enhanced surveillance and response
- • Deliverable 2.1: Conduct spot checking at HCs to ensure that the surveillance data from health center and villages are accurately entered into data collection forms and then correctly entered into the Malaria Information System (DHIS2).
- • Deliverable 2.2: Identify high priority areas (with high cases and increasing trend) and map malaria transmission sites.
- • Deliverable 2.3: Provide technical support on case and foci investigation and classification and more aggressive interventions that will be implemented in the country.
- • Deliverable 3.1: Each month, assess and provide a report summarizing key epidemiological and program management findings, focusing on implementation progress and gaps for surveillance and case management, particularly outbreak response activities and the enhanced response interventions;
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential: University degree in medicine, science or equivalent with postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology from an accredited/recognized institute.
EXPERIENCE
Essential: Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience required. An experience in WHO or other UN Organizations, working on communicable diseases is desirable.
LANGUAGES
Good knowledge of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak).
COMPETENCIES
- • Teamwork
- • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- • Communication
- • Moving forward in a changing environment
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
DUTY STATION: Vientiane, Lao PDR
ORGANIZATION: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Short Term Consultancy
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 3rd September 2020 (1700 – GMT8)
START DATE: 1st October 2020
DURATION OF CONTRACT: 3 months (available funds until December with possible extension for Jan-Jun 2021)
Place of assignment
Locations
Based in Vientiane with some travel required to the provinces.
Medical clearance
The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
Frequent travels and potentially long stays in the provinces is expected.
All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.
Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed. WHO Country Office Cambodia will facilitate the procedures to obtain official visa.
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} together with the monthly rate in (USD) to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 30 August 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. 112783 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.