Consultant - Conduct of IMCI Training of Frontline Health Workers from Secondary Health Facilities in Gombe State at Save The Children

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Background
Every year, about six million children die globally before they reach their fifth birthday, many during the first year of life (UNICEF, 2016). Half of these deaths are due to acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, measles, malaria, malnutrition; or often to a combination of these conditions which are largely preventable and treatable conditions. The risk of a child dying before completing five years of age is highest in the WHO African Region (81 per 1000 live births), about 7 times higher than in the WHO European Region (11 per 1000 live births) according to statistics from WHO (2005). Various factors bordering on socioeconomic determinants of health have been proposed as possible underlying factors for these outcomes. Reducing these inequities across countries and saving more children’s lives by ending preventable child deaths are therefore important priorities.

As part of efforts to address these challenges, Save the Children with funding from GSK is currently building the capacity of frontline health workers in the delivery of MNCH interventions. The project aligns with the National Strategic Health development plan (2010–2016), the Integrated Management of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy (IMNCH) 2013, and IMCI and ICCM guidelines and implementation strategies.

The IMCI guidelines which was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) promotes prompt identification of childhood illnesses in the outpatient settings and provides appropriate treatment and referrals when necessary. The guideline also helps to improve the quality of care of sick children at the referral level by providing an effective link between the care provided at the community and the management approach in the facility and promotes the rational use of resources.

Purpose of Activity

• The purpose of this activity is to build the capacity of frontline health workers across Secondary health facilities in Gombe state on IMCI.

Objectives

• To build/strengthen the capacity of health workers to manage common childhood illnesses at secondary heath care facilities in Gombe state.

Methodology:

• An IMCI objective-structured clinical assessment checklist will be used in the conduct of a Training Needs Assessment. All the secondary health facilities would be visited and the assessment checklist administered to assess the skills gap observed. The gaps observed would be used in the design of the training intervention. The TNA would be conducted in 3 zones in Gombe over a period of 5 days.
• The training will be led by a Lead Consultant along with 5 other resource persons (including the MNCH Advisor)
• The participants will be trained for 6 days on IMCI with mixed classroom sessions and practical sessions.
• The IMCI chart booklet and exercise booklets would be used as manuals and materials for the the training.
• The training will involve the use of low technology and highly effective teaching methods: simulation, role play, drills, skills practice and practical demonstration amongst others. The training would be a combination of both classroom and practical sessions with participants scheduled to visit selected hospitals for the practical sessions. The training will also be conducted using mannequins for practice
• Pre-test and Post-test evaluation would be used in assessing knowledge gained by trainees.
• Facilitators would conduct a post-training follow-up and supportive supervision to facilities where selected health workers have been trained within 6-8 weeks of the training.

Participants:

• The training will be for a single batch of 22 health workers from all secondary health facilities in Gombe state.

Consultant Specification

• The desired consultant should be an experienced pediatrician (a fellow of West African Medical College/NPMCN) with a minimum of 5 years’ post-fellowship experience
• He/she should have undertaken a TOT course on IMCI
• He/she should be able to mobilize 4 other facilitators (Doctors/Midwives) with a minimum of 5 years’ experience as well as experience in the the delivery of IMCI training.

Expected Outputs:

• Trained health workers with knowledge and skills to assess and classify the sick child
• Trained health workers with enhanced skills in identifying common childhood illness at the facility level.
• Trained Health workers with skills in managing common childhood illnesses using the IMCI guidelines.
• Trained Health workers with adequate knowledge and skills in counselling the mother.
• A comprehensive report of the Training reports developed by the consultants and shared with SCI office.