Health Consultant (CARAMAL) at UNICEF

Job Number: 513381

Work Type: Consultancy

Background

• UNICEF is implementing the Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria (CARAMAL) project in Adamawa State, Nigeria, as part of multi-country (Nigeria, Uganda and DRC) operations research to inform effective roll-out of Rectal Artesunate Suppository (RAS) for pre-referral treatment of severe malaria. The initiative rests on ongoing UNICEF-Supported community case management (iCCM) program in Adamawa State, and is implemented by a consortium of UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH).
• Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness, death, and lost economic productivity globally. While the successful scale-up and use of critical commodities such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have resulted in a 48% decline in malaria-related mortality since 2000, malaria still results in over 400,000 deaths each year, of which most are children under-five and pregnant women.
• Malaria mortality results from the progression of untreated or sub-optimally treated malaria to severe disease and that severe malaria almost invariably results in death if left untreated. In 2010 the disease killed an estimated 660,000 people largely children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa; the Republic of Congo and Nigeria account for more than 40% of estimated global malaria deaths (WHO, 2013). Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) reports Nigeria accounts for one quarter of all malaria cases in Africa, one of the world's highest rates of all cause -mortality for children under five, and about one in six children die before their fifth birthday (FMOH, 2012).
• Malaria transmission was initially holoendemic in Nigeria. However, recent information has provided evidence of a progress divergence of in-country variation in malaria endemicity [Snow et al, 2013]. Hence as at 2010, it was estimated that 85% of Nigerians lived in areas supporting mesoendemic transmission, 15% lived under conditions of hyper-holoendemicity and areas within FCT Abuja, Adamawa and Borno States support hypoendemicity. Malaria has been reported to account for 35% of outpatient visits among children under five years of age in Nigeria [NDHS 2013].
• According to the World Malaria Report (2012), the entire population of Nigeria (estimated in 2011 at 189 million) is at risk of contracting malaria every year.
• Adamawa State is located in north eastern part of Nigeria challenged with security issues, hence the access to health care is also constrained as a result of the security challenges. UNICEF is currently implementing iCCM in Adamawa State with a significantly large target population. In order to address this public health challenge in the CARAMAL project as an intervention will be piloted in Adamawa state using the iCCM structures in place to reach under 5 children in selected rural communities, by providing pre - referral treatment of severe malaria.

Rationale

• The Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria (CARAMAL) pilot project requires regular close monitoring and coordination in order to achieve quality implementation and credible results. This position is to support the State ministry of health, State primary health care development agency and other partners in the coordination of the implementation of the Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria (CARAMAL) project in the states and other partners in the coordination of the implementation of the Rectal Artesunate Suppository (RAS) project at the national level in Adamawa State.
• The consultant will support the SMOH, SPHCDA and SMEP, other partners in implementing strategies towards achieving significant progress at state level in line with the state response to malaria elimination. He/she will strengthen partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at state level, increased transparency and accountability, capacity building, and the piloting of the pre- referral treatment of severe malaria within the context of iCCM towards achieving equity, community participation and effective referral systems.
• The consultant will support the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners in the day to day coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the RAS pilot project. He/she will ensure that the strategies and interventions on the project that will strengthen partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at LGA level, increased transparency and accountability, capacity building, provision of sustainable and scaled-up integrated MNCHN service delivery with equity and community participation.

Purpose of Assignment

• To provide strategic technical support in coordinating planning, implementation and close out stages of the RAS project at state level

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
State and LGA:

• Work with other UNICEF Consultants in Adamawa to support ongoing primary health care strengthening initiative in the state
• Work with the SMOH, SPHCDA, SMEP and other partners to support planning, implementation and review of CARAMAL project activities at the state level
• Support the ongoing review and strengthening of ongoing iCCM program in the state.
• Support SMOH and SPHCDA by providing technical assistance in strengthening referral system at the state/ LGA level.
• Support SMOH, SPHCDA and SMEP in the collation and review CARAMAL project data from implementing sites within the state
• Support SMOH, SPHCDA and SMEP in the contributing to the drafting of CARAMAL project annual work plan in sync with the malaria program state work plan
• Support State to write timely CARAMAL project reports
• Attending State malaria program partners meetings on behalf of UNICEF
• Liaise with State Government counterpart in the periodic review of the progress on the project

Health Facility/Community Level:
Priority areas of work to be supported at this level on the RAS project (Training, data collection tools  Supportive Supervision) including but not limited to the following:

• Set up and implement a quality data collection system at the facility level
• Ensuring that the project data tools are available at all service delivery points/CORPs in adequate quantities.
• In collaboration with state and national Trainers, organize and conduct trainings for health services providers in the use of the data collection tools, and analysis of data of the RAS interventions.
• Support the end user monitoring of drugs and supplies provided to health facilities/CORPs.
• Participate in on the Job Training, Supportive Supervision and mentoring of CORPs and health workers related to data collection and ensure report is timely done and submitted.
• Participate in on the Job Training, Supportive Supervision and mentoring of CORPs and health workers related to use of CARAMAL for pre-referral treatment of severe malaria in U- 5 children

State Level:

• Support setting up/organization of structures for monitoring CARAMAL project implementation
• Provide regular and timely collation of CARAMAL project activity data
• Drafting of the CARAMAL project reports in the state
• Support and ensure that DHIS 2.0 platform in the state is updated with service data from the CARAMAL project
• Support and conduct the end user monitoring of supplies and demand for RAS intervention services in communities and households.

End Product:

• Annual State work and operational plans
• Quarterly DHIS, PHC review reports
• Monthly progress reports containing CARAMAL intervention services and outreach services data, stock update, etc.
• Reports of Workshop/Meetings with actionable recommendations.
• Quarterly reports of milestones achieved to advance project implementation.

Minimum Qualification

• University Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health and/or related technical field.
• Minimum of three years experience working on health research projects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language an asset. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.
• Knowledge of DHIS 2.0 platform for health data collection, collation and research.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions of the country
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF mission and professional values.

Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:

• 11.5 Months term is required for this assignment with possibility of renewal.

Location: Adamawa, Nigeria Application Link

Location: Abuja, Nigeria Application Link