Malaria Case Management (Roster Consultant)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the home of malaria, and it is a significant health and development challenge. It accounts for an average annual reduction of 1.3% in economic growth in high endemic countries of Africa[1]. Overall, the WHO African Region accounted for 90% of all malaria cases and 91% of all malaria deaths in 2017. The last two decades have witnessed some progress in malaria control efforts within the WHO-AFRO region, with the period between2000 and 2015 seeing a decline in mortality of 66% and a halving of malaria prevalence and incidence in children aged 2–10 years[2]. After this period of unprecedented success, in more recent years, progress in reducing the global malaria burden may have stalled. Globally, we are not on track to meet the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for Malaria mortality and morbidity milestones for 2020.

Maintaining strong country program leadership, political commitment, technical capacity and engendering partnership and coordination including the private sector and community engagement continue to be critical to achieving set goals. WHO-AFRO with its partners in malaria has continued to work with countries to strengthen evidence-based malaria programme environment, in the face of ever-dwindling external resources that have hitherto, sustained the malaria control and elimination efforts.

It is against this backdrop the WHO regional office for Africa seeks to update its roster of international consultants with requisite skills in specific relevant technical areas to provide additional surge capacities as may be needed.

Prompt and appropriate Malaria Case Management is essential to reducing mortality due to the disease in different transmission settings. Case detection, case classification also presents the entry point for disease surveillance activities especially in lower transmission settings. Availability of requisite technical capacities for appropriate case management of uncomplicated and severe malaria, ICCM, MDAs, recommended chemoprevention strategies such as IPTp, IPTi and SMC, the conduct of therapeutic efficacy studies to assure efficacy of treatments of choice and assuring the quality of care at service delivery levels remain essential.

Technical support to strengthen capacity on Malaria Case Management across transmission settings (from high to very low) and health system context are critical to the attainment of the malaria strategic goals articulated in the 2015-30 Malaria GTS. Practical and hands-on approaches to capacity strengthening also provide important feedback towards adapting and assuring continuous improvement in service delivery.

The Consultancy roaster provides a prequalified list of consultant(s) with relevant competencies and experience in malaria case management and therapeutic efficacy studies to support multiple streams of work being implemented under the supervision of the WHO–AFRO malaria team. The prequalification will also allow for rapid selection and deployment of a technical resource as required supporting activities related to Malaria Case management.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Under the overall supervision of the Communicable Diseases Director and the Regional Malaria Adviser, designated WHO AFRO/ WCO staff members, the primary supervisor shall be the Malaria ISTs focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out and a second contact point at AFRO office as designated by Communicable Diseases Director and Regional Malaria Adviser.

The consultant will perform the following tasks\:

i.Work with CDS Malaria and ISTs to provide onsite technical assistance with the Ministries of health (MOHs) in support to countries in the update of case management guidelines.

ii.To undertake a rapid appraisal and quality of care audits and supportive supervision activities for front line health workers

iii.Build local capacity of the ministry of health workers on appropriate case management and therapeutic efficacy studies.

iv.Provide inputs as required into SOPs relating to Malaria Case management, MDA and chemoprevention interventions in line with WHO recommendations

v.Facilitate hands-on field exercises as required.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The work will encompass\:

-Participation in Malaria quality of care audits

-Field visits to districts and interaction with the affected communities and health workers

-Technical assistance and training to health workers involved in the implementation of malaria case management and chemoprevention activities

-Engage national authorities and other stakeholders on key action points to be addressed.

The deliverables will include\:

-Reports of field visits to the affected district and other activity reports

-Training reports from training activities

-Minutes of meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree with a Postgraduate Medical or Public Health degree.

Desirable\: Diploma in Malariology, infectious diseases management or quality of care.

Experience

Essential\: Seven years of experience in Malaria Case Management and at least five years of working experience facilitating capacity building efforts of health workers resource-challenged settings.

Experience working with National Malaria Programmes.

Desirable\: Experience supporting therapeutic efficacy studies, Malaria chemoprevention interventions such as IPTp, IPTi, SMC. Experience in conducting clinical audits and supportive supervision activities.

Skills

-Strong knowledge of clinical case management of malaria, communicable disease epidemiology with specific experience in malaria epidemiology;

-Proven experience in the malaria policies, strategies, guidelines development;

-Proven skills and knowledge in the development and evaluation of clinical quality of care;

-Presentation skills and competencies in communication

Use of Language Skills

-Essential\: Expert Knowledge of English.

-Desirable\: Good working knowledge of the second international language considered an added advantage.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 70,647 USD (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

·This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

·Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

·A written test may be used as a form of screening.

·In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

·Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

·For information on WHO's operations please visit\: http\://www.who.int.

·WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

·WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

·WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

·Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.