Senior immunization specialist
BACKGROUND
The National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Ministry of Health, Cambodia was established in 1986 with six basic vaccines. Over the past decades, NIP introduced six new and underutilized vaccines (Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza type B, Rubella, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine, and Japanese Encephalitis). As of 2018, 12 vaccines are in national immunization schedule for preventing 11 diseases.
NIP has made great efforts to protect the people from Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) in last two decades in Cambodia. It has made significant progresses including attaining some landmark achievements in the history of public health such as polio eradication, measles elimination and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination and recently hepatitis B control goal. Incredible contributions made to new born survival, reduction of child and maternal mortality and hence supported to achieve Cambodian Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and now contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) is an international region of the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia covering 2.6 million square kilometers. Five of six countries of GMS are also part of Regional forum Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Cambodia shares the border with Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Due to fast growing economy, enormous opportunities, greater connectivity and expansion of transportation network in this sub-region, there are huge population movements. Especially there are rapidly accelerating flows of people in Cambodia –Thailand border. At the same time, Cambodia itself is undergoing fast economic development and hence there are domestic population movements including intra-provincial and short range of population movement.
These resulted bringing both communicable disease control benefits and consequences. Working parent lives in Cambodian border areas, often leave the children to caregivers or grandparents, are unable to vaccinate in a timely manner or some children remain left out from vaccination. At the same time, often there is limited infrastructure and/or inadequate health systems in border areas which make direct and indirect impact on immunization and as a whole health and wellbeing of people in Cambodia.
In Government system, there is an already established mechanism of cross border activities within GMS since 1992. Expanded Programme on Immunization of WHO Regional Office for Western Pacific and South East Asia also established Bi-Regional cross border meetings since last seven years. International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been working for in border areas in Cambodia sine long.
EPI review conducted in 2017 found that due to economic development there is rapid urbanization and working opportunities, hence, there are increased mobile populations in urban areas. Working parent lives in urban areas, often leave the children to caregivers or grandparents, who are unable to decide for vaccination. It was also found that immunization services delivery, health education to parents/caregivers and communication strategies to parents/caregivers/communities appeared inadequate to properly address these emerging concerns like rapid urbanization, mobile & migrant population, working parents, etc especially in Phnom Penh. At the same time, there is evolving private sectors in urban areas that are providing health services along with the public sectors. In recent time, there has been initiation of special focus of urban immunization by UNICEF in Cambodia.
Measles outbreaks in 2016 and 2017 provided adequate evidence that virus was imported and localized transmission occurred and there are population immunity gaps in international border areas and urban provinces. Similarly, there is increased risk of transmission of other vaccine preventable diseases through international border provinces and urban areas due to population immunity gaps.
NIP planned to assess, identify scope of extending the reach and range of the immunization programme in the international border areas and urban settings; and develop strategies and activities to bridge the immunization services delivery and coverage gaps towards preventing vaccine preventable diseases’ outbreaks.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
The WHO Country Office, Cambodia is seeking technical assistance to support the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Ministry of Health with following objectives:
- To strengthen the routine immunization systems by comprehensive assessment of programme situation in international border and urban provinces and development and implementation of activities;
- To reduce inequities of immunization coverage with special focus by improving immunization services in urban areas including factories, international border areas.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- Plan, design and develop questionnaires; and assess the challenges and obstacles of immunization programme and vaccine preventable diseases surveillance in international border and urban areas including consideration of broader health system perspective and provide practical solutions to improve the performances;
- Meet with different stakeholders including IOM, UNICEF, and related departments of MOH to understand and synthesize the issues and activities already in plan and under implementation.
- Submission of report along with recommendations.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
A consultant will be based in Phnom Penh and work under the overall guidance of the Technical Officer, Expanded Programme on Immunization of WHO Country Office, Cambodia. She/he will be working and in collaboration with Ministry of Health and National Immunization Programme for planning, preparing, implementing and monitoring of above mentioned activities including visit to provinces/ODs/HCs/communities.
Output 1: Assessment conducted and met different stakeholders
Deliverable: Designed, planned, prepared and assessment conducted including meeting with selected stakeholders.
Output 2: Assessment report prepared and available
Deliverable: Assessment report prepared with team members for strengthening immunization services and VPD surveillance in international border and urban areas with recommendations
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential: Postgraduate degree in public health from a recognized university and/or training/s in public health at postgraduate degree level or its equivalent is essential
Desirable: Training in EPI and knowledge about health system
EXPERIENCE
Essential: At least 10 years of relevant experience and/or experiences in the field of immunization programmes is essential.
Desirable: Working experiences in WHO or UNICEF or other international organization. Working experiences in developing country (s) and health system
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
Sound knowledge in the planning, preparation, assessment/review of various activities in immunization and vaccine preventable disease surveillance programme.. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
LANGUAGES
Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.
COMPETENCIES
- Producing results.
- Fostering integration and teamwork.
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Visits to provinces/ODs/HCs/Communities
DUTY STATION: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
ORGANIZATION: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Short-Term Consultant
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 June 2019
STARTING DATE: 1 August 2019
DURATION OF CONTRACT: One month
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV, Expression of Interest {cover letter} and propose monthly and daily rate in USD to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 15 June 2019.
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. WPRO/2019-05/KHM_EPI/TN91435/vrs as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.