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 3 x UNV Malaria Officers that are both deployed to support the five southern high malaria incidence provinces as well as the implementation of the elimination strategies in targeted Districts. 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 19 April 2022 until 15 October 2022
The epidemiologist consultant will be expected to travel an extensive amount of time in the five provinces that implementing aggressive new strategies to eliminate Plasmodium falciparum by the end of 2023 (Salavan, Savanakhet, Sekong, Champassack, Attapue), and will also support and coordinate activities in these areas with implementing partners at Provincial, District, health facility 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 the WHO HTM (HIV/TB/Malaria) Team Leader and National Officer (Malaria) to supervise the 3 x malaria UNVs that will be supporting the national malaria program to strengthen subnational capacity in using data for decision making; and
- Support CMPE to design, implementation and supervise implementation of the new aggressive P.falciaprum elimination interventions that are being deployed in targeted villages, including targeted drug administration, intermittent preventive treatment of forest goers and active fever screening. The objective of this activity is to deplete the parasite reservoirs in these hard to reach populations in order to achieve the goal of eliminating P.falciparum in Lao by the end of 2023; and
- Strengthen the capacity of the national malaria programs and the national public health emergency operations center (PHEOC) to conduct regular epidemiological analysis. Based on the results of these analysis promote the triggering of appropriate and timely responses as per national policy and ensure that reporting and follow up are conducted at each level.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Output 1 - Surveillance and response coordination, programme management: Improve coordination between the national PHEOC, national malaria program and subnational implementing units:
Activity 1: Strengthen coordination between national and subnational malaria programs and the PHEOC ensure optimal implementation of surveillance and response activities and the routine reporting of these activities;
Activity 2: Build epidemiological and program management capacity at the national, provincial and district levels;
Activity 3: Work with WHO subnational UNVs to produce a monthly technical report on program implementation progress, outcomes and practical findings with next steps;
Output 2 – Implementation of aggressive new P.falciparum elimination strategies (“Accelerator Strategies”): Technical support on the design, training, roll out and implementation of these activities, specifically targeted drug administration, intermittent preventative treatment of forest goers and active fever screening. Support national and subnational programs to conduct data quality assessment and validation processes to ensure data reliability.
Activity 1: Work with UNVs, CMPE and WHO CO staff to implement the Accelerator Strategies according to the SOPs and per the training materials;
Activity 2: Support CMPE, provincial and district malaria programs and supporting CSOs to monitor implementation of the Accelerator Strategies at health facility and village level;
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 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: Support CMPE to conduct weekly management meetings to build cpacoity of provinces and districts to assess and make data driven decisions that is aimed at improving overall impact, performance, and functionality of the subnational malaria programs. Meetings will focus on:
- • routine diagnosis and treatment (quality assurance);
- • surveillance data reporting (both PCD and ACD);
- • performance of VMWs;
- • stock management;
- • compliance of health facilities and VMWs with national treatment guidelines;
- • Deliverable 1.3: Work with CMPE to develop systematic weekly reporting to the PHEOC on outbreaks and program response in high burden areas.
Output 2: Implementation of aggressive new P.falciparum elimination strategies
- • Deliverable 2.1: Support CMPE to provide routine reports on the Accelerator Strategies, status of implemented, coverage of interventions, challenges and bottlenecks and recommendations.
- • Deliverable 2.2: Support CMPE, WHO malaria team and partners in the field to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Accelerator Strategies.
- • Deliverable 2.3: Provide technical support on the implementation of outbreak response strategies in other areas where Accelerator Strategies are not being implemented.
- • Deliverable 2.4: Support CMPE and partners to review, revise and disseminate the ‘Burden Reduction Surveillance and Response Guidelines’.
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 5 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
Place of assignment
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} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int> by 25 February 2022
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 (in USD) and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 166433 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.