Data Manager, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases

Background

The Malaria, other Vectorborne and Parasitic Diseases (MVP) unit at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in Manila, Philippines supports national programmes to apply effective regional and national strategies and policies to strengthen surveillance of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and accelerate towards their elimination.  MVP aims to monitor monthly and annual, sub-national level data to track progress made by national programmes towards achieving milestones and targets established in regional action frameworks. Development and maintenance of the integrated WHO regional DHIS2 database is one of the core activities expected from the malaria and NTD surveillance teams.

Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity

The consultant will support surveillance strengthening of malaria and NTDs, collaborating with Health Intelligence and Information (HII) Unit to optimize and maintain the regional disease integrated district health information system (DHIS2) data platform and MySQL database backend. The consultant will facilitate data collection at national and sub-national levels and information sharing between WHO and national programmes for malaria and NTDs.

Description of activities to be carried out

In close collaboration with the MVP Coordinator and WHO Technical Officers, the HII focal point, and surveillance focal points at national malaria and NTD programmes, the consultant will maintain the regional DHIS2 database and support data collection, data sharing and data analysis for the WHO regional surveillance efforts.  The consultant will be responsible for updating disease data entry forms, database organizational units and corresponding unique identifiers (UIDs), and mapping backend database to updated data variables.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The consultant will carry the following activities:

1. Update and maintain the WPRO DHIS2 database for malaria and NTDs
2. Improve data collection and data sharing for malaria and NTDs in the Western Pacific
3. Facilitate data entry, data analysis and use at WHO regional and country levels and among national malaria and NTD programs
4. Perform any other task as assigned by the MVP Coordinator and/or Technical Officers

Description of the tasks/process involved in carrying out the activity

1. Update and maintain the regional DHIS2 database for malaria and NTDs.

• Update DHIS2 from current version 2.24 to version 2.28 together with HII and Information and Technology and Administration (ITA) for added functionality and access to key applications, including maps and case-based Tracker module.
• Update and maintain DHIS2 user permissions, administrative units, map shape files and applications. With support from MVP technical focal points, establish and maintain data elements, indicators, dashboards and thresholds aligned with regional action frameworks and other global, regional and national guidelines for malaria and NTDs.

2. Improve data collection and data sharing in the Western Pacific region

• Follow up with malaria and NTD surveillance focal points in WHO country offices and national programmes to ensure regular data submission to the regional database: i.e. not later than the second week of current month, previous month data should be entered.
• Support MVP advocacy efforts among national malaria and NTD programmes to timely share monthly data for the regional database, supporting and following up regularly with national programmes.
• Work closely with the Mekong Malaria Elimination Hub (MME) data manager to support technical development of web APIs and script code to automatically pull/push their DHIS2 data into the regional database and database element mapping for national programmes not using DHIS2 in order to export formatted national data for import into regional platform.
• Support annual and ad hoc data collection efforts and follow up with national focal points for World Malaria Reports and other regional and global WHO reports for malaria and NTDs.

3.  Facilitate data analysis and use at WHO regional and country levels and among national programs

• Develop a malaria outbreak notification system, based on C-SUM or other statistical method as guided by technical officers, to alert MVP focal points at WHO country offices and other relevant focal points in the event of monthly reported case increases.
• Promote the use of WPRO MVP DHIS2 platform by providing access to focal points of national malaria and NTD programmes in country and utilizing DHIS2 messaging and verification tools.
• Provide orientations/trainings of data analysis and surveillance using the regional DHIS2 to surveillance focal points in country, including dashboard and threshold development and use and monthly data uploading.
• Support training and use of DHIS2 Tracker for case-based disease surveillance efforts as guided by national and regional action frameworks and guidelines for malaria and NTDs, where applicable.

4.  Perform any other task as assigned by the MVP Coordinator and/or technical focal points.

• Creating supporting documents for key meetings.
• Generate reports with required data for presentations and meetings.
• Perform other assigned tasks related to surveillance and data management.

Education

Bachelor degree or above in computer science, informtation technology or related field.

Experience

Minimum of 3 years of work experience in database management required. One year experience in WHO, other UN Organizations or related government or NGO programme, working on database implementation required.

Skills

Knowledge of IT skills including Application Programming Interface (API), MySQL and PHP (LAMP) required; some experience using DHIS2 and GIS software preferred.  

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English is essential (read-write-speak).

Additional information

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Competencies

• Produces effective written communications. Ensures that information is shared.
• Develops and promotes effective relationships with colleagues and team members.
• Produces and delivers quality results; action oriented and committed to achieving outcomes.

Application

Please submit following documents to the Supply Officer at wprosao@who.int by 27 July 2018:

• Expression of interest (cover letter) that includes proposed consultancy fee (per day) and availability
• WHO personal history form or CV

Please note that the application may be closed before the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. Only the successful candidates will be contacted