RMNCH Consultant at Jhpiego - John Hopkins University

Overview:

Nigeria has a maternal mortality rate of 512 death/100,000 live births; under-5 mortality of 132 death/1,000 live births while that of neonatal death is 39 death/1,000 live births [Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2018]. NDHS 2013 and 2018 results demonstrate no significant improvement in maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the past decade. The 2019 Verbal and Social Autopsy Study (VASA) demonstrated that neonatal death accounts for 30% of under-5 mortality and that the leading causes of neonatal death are sepsis, intrapartum injuries, and pneumonia, with the majority of neonatal deaths occurring in the early neonatal period (first seven days). Poor quality of care is a leading contributor to preventable maternal, neonatal and child deaths. Indeed, the leading causes of early neonatal death demonstrated in the VASA are strongly correlated with poor quality of antepartum, intrapartum, and postnatal care (including immediate essential newborn care and newborn resuscitation). Improving the quality of care received by mothers, newborns, and children across the antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and child health care continuum is essential for reducing maternal and neonatal and under five morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. and mortality in Nigeria.

Responsibilities:

The Federal Ministry of Health and partners require the services of a consultant to lead the process of review/update of the National Maternal Newborn Health Quality of Care strategy. The scope of the review process would involve the following:

• Strengthen national and state level RMNCAEH+N QoC policy, governance, and monitoring.
• Conduct a situational analysis (rapid assessment, desk review research, data analysis), to identify quality and performance gaps, services to be improved).
• Identify and fully incorporate all national policies and guidelines in relevant areas including governance gaps with respect to the updated National RMNCAEH+N QoC strategy, its implementation, gaps (in leadership, coordination, robust QoC data systems, and strategic QoC learning and research).
• Work in collaboration with the consultant incorporating the 2018 pediatric QoC standards and the 2020 small sick newborn (SSNB) QoC standards into the updated national RMNCAEH+N QoC strategy.
• Explore and incorporate existing standards and/or guidelines within different program sub-division at the FMOH along the Reproductive, Adolescent, Elderly and Nutrition Quality of Care resulting in an updated RMNCAEH+N QoC strategy.
• Draft Updated National RMNCAEH+N Quality of Care Strategy
• Rapid assessment, desk review research, data analysis, to identify quality and performance gaps, services to be improved.
• Identify and fully incorporate all national policies and guidelines including governance gaps with respect to the updated National RMNCAEH+N QoC strategy, its implementation, gaps.
• Work in collaboration with the consultant incorporating the 2018 pediatric QoC standards and the 2020 small sick newborn (SSNB) QoC standards into the updated national RMNCAEH+N QoC strategy.
• Presentation and technical support to the Stakeholders meeting
• Finalize the National RMNCAEH+N Quality of Care Strategy following the stakeholder’s meeting/consensus

Required Qualification:

• Post-graduate degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Masters, PhD is an added advantage.
• Preferably not less than 8 years / Medical degree (MBBS, Nursing/midwifery, pharmacy etc.) with Masters in public health (necessary for medical related consultancies).
• Professional certification in related field is an added advantage.
• At least 12 years working experience in related field.
• Publications in maternal and newborn health, especially the niche of RMNCH Quality of Care.
• Extensive consultancy experience with local and international organizations of at least 7 years
• Previous experience working with the Federal and State Ministry of Health stakeholders

Skills and Competencies:

• Good knowledge of MS Office packages etc
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure and collaboratively in a team.
• Advanced level of spoken and written English