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Consultant, Malaria Surveillance and Private Health Sector Engagement

India

  • Organization: CHAI - Clinton Health Access Initiative
  • Location: India
  • Grade: Consultancy - Independent Contractor
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Security and Safety
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
  • Closing Date: Closed

Consultant, Malaria Surveillance and Private Health Sector Engagement

Country
India
City
New Delhi
Type
Independent Contractor
Program (Division)
Country Programs - India
Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org


In India, WJCF seconded a Technical Support Unit (TSU) to NVBDCP since 2020 to a support in health system strengthening by providing analytical and coordination support to national and state officials and partner organizations in the combined effort towards the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis and Visceral Leishmaniasis. In addition, the team also supports NVBDCP in other VBD diseases including malaria.

 

Background to the project:

With 1.2 billion people at risk globally, India accounts for 88 percent of Malaria cases and 86 percent of Malaria deaths within the South-East Asia Region in 2019.[1] In 2019, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) reported 0.3 million Malaria cases. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that Malaria infects approximately 5.6 million Indians per year, mostly socially excluded, marginalized populations living in the tribal belts or those seeking care in the private health sector that often go unreported.

 

In recent decades, India has made significant progress in the fight against Malaria, by experiencing the largest absolute Malaria reduction from the WHO South-East Asia Region, from about 20 million estimated cases in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019. However, given that most often the first point of contact for health seeking remains largely private sector, it is safe to assume that similar trend follows in Malaria as well. Though the notification of each case of malaria from the private sector is mandated, the malaria surveillance data available through the routine MIS is not available.[2] This results in insufficient and unreliable data to get a comprehensive picture of the Malaria situation in India.

 

Malaria surveillance in India is very diverse in nature. There are multiple systems that capture information and duplication along the channels. The surveillance systems vary from state to state depending upon local contextualization and Malaria burden. Data for Malaria surveillance is primarily captured because of service delivery i.e., the programmatic approach to address the disease at the community level.  The initial recording of data under various indicators tends to be on paper and further digitalized via Health Management Information System (HMIS), Integrated Disease Surveillance Progamme (IDSP) and/or Malaria Management Information system (MMIS). It is important to note that Malaria surveillance is an integral part of the wider surveillance system both at symptomatic or diagnosis level in HMIS or IDSP. The data thereby is transferred from one node to another and is a part of an overall package including other health concerns. In addition, data is also entered into the system by public health laboratories regarding the number of slides examined as well as the use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) kits for the screening and diagnosis of Malaria.


The country is now progressively implementing the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). IHIP is a web-enabled near-real-time electronic information system that provides a state-of-the-art single operating picture with geospatial information for managing disease outbreaks and related resources for the country. The long-term vision of the country is that IHIP will eventually integrate all national health programmes within its platform. In the special context of Malaria, two states were chosen as pilots. IHIP will take time to be completely implemented and become self-sustaining.

 

In addition, there is very limited understanding of the Malaria screening, diagnosis and management within health care space. There is limited information to understand patient pathways in various urban-rural population-based scenarios to understand how malaria is managed within the public and private health care domains contextualised to the diversity on various parameters such as geography, demography, economic quintiles, and population segments that can provide a comprehensive overview of the Malaria in the country.

 

Further, there is lack of information how is malaria screened, diagnosed, and managed in private health care settings. There are significant gaps in understanding on practises, recording of cases and data.

 

Given the context above, private sector engagement is a crucial piece of the puzzle that needs to be assessed and engaged to realise the national goal of Malaria elimination by 2030.

 

[1] WHO | World Malaria Report 2020

[2]  National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Operational manual for malaria elimination in India 2016 Version1. https://nvbdcp.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/5232542721532941542.pdf (p. 18).

Responsibilities

WJCF wishes to engage the services of the Consultant who would report directly to the Team Leader, TSU and would support a Senior Consultant for a in depth scoping exercise with the following objectives:

  • To assess the current Malaria surveillance mechanism with a special context of private health sector to include current practices, patient pathways and the diverse set of stakeholders in the ecosystem
  • To provide clear framework and approaches to engage private health sector in Malaria management and surveillance for the country

The Consultant will be expected to under the assignment and support Senior Consultant to undertake:

  • Operational review of the existing malaria governance and surveillance structure
  • Assess how Malaria is dealt with in the private health sector (in terms of screening, diagnosis, treatment, management and referral systems, and their alignment with the standards of care as defined in the national guidelines)
  • Evaluate the role of all actors (Malaria Practitioners – both formal or informal, private laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals that are professionally managed, medical colleges, etc.) in the private sector and what and how is data recorded
  • Evaluate and identify gaps in the surveillance protocols, SOPs, data collection tools and training materials to improve private sector participation, including possible regulation and trainings
  • Assess how surveillance is achieved at the district and sub district level and how IHIP, IDSP, HMIS, Malaria Management System etc. can integrate both public and private sector data
  • Develop an engagement prototype/plan for the private sector engagement and strengthening surveillance by:
    • Exploring various delivery models to ensure consistent availability of recommended diagnostics and treatment in the private sector
    • Assess what is the surveillance space at the district and sub district level – where does IHIP, IDSP, HMIS, Malaria Management System etc. fit into all this?
    • Exploring referral mechanisms to the public sector for treatment of Malaria cases
    • Explore ways to liaise and leverage Tuberculosis and other health programs to use the private sector information/databases
    • Lead ideation of new ideas to improve private sector engagement and timely recording of Malaria cases
    • Review and explore the existing malaria digital tools for private sector reporting
    • Engage with stakeholders at various levels (national and state), including both Government and Non-Government organizations, private sector and coordinate with them
    • Support project manager in donor engagement and reporting to key stakeholders
    • Liaise with CHAI’s global team to leverage the experience from other countries as well to bring the best lessons and approaches available for India
Qualifications
  •  
  • Master's degree or higher qualification in a related field such as public health, public policy, management or development
  • At least 3 years of professional experience in leading large scale implementation projects in either public or private sector
  • Knowledge of healthcare delivery system in private and/or public; experience in Tuberculosis and/or Malaria management at the state and national level would be an asset
  • Proven track record of working in challenging multi-stakeholder environments & ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders and drive immediate results
  • Entrepreneurial mind-set, including ability to work independently, self-motivate, and propose and implement new initiatives
  • Demonstrated ability in driving change in large program settings
  • Strong written and oral communication skills including development of analyses/presentations/reports for varied project audience/stakeholders

Duration of the project: 3 to 6 Months

Final Deliverables and Milestones

 

 

Deliverable/Milestone

Time Lines

1.        

Desk review and report on available literature on Malaria surveillance in special context to Private Sector

1 month

2.        

Developing and finalization the framework

1 Month

3.        

Stakeholder engagement and primary data collection (Including stakeholder consultations, travel and data collection)

2-3 Months

4.        

Draft Report – dissemination and receiving feedback

3-4 months

5.        

Final Report with clear recommendations

4-6 Months

 #region2

This vacancy is now closed.
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