Consultancy on external data quality review for TB, HIV and malaria
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Background
Data is integral to driving Global/ national strategies, each program relies on data that is accurate, of quality, managed well, and usable in a timely fashion. However, quality improvement (QI) of data is a process that must be continuous, and all programs should look at internal and external data quality improvement over time. This improvement should be systematically measurable and at scale to impact programs.
The electronic national health information systems (eNHIS) capture data from the facility, district and provincial levels for most communicable diseases. However, some vertical systems remain including HIV and TB programs more for granularity of the data, case management approach, and people-centered care.
Papua New Guinea’s National STI and HIV Strategy 2018-2022 highlights that a successful response to STIs and HIV is driven by accurate and up-to-date strategic information and research. It emphasizes harmonized information systems, sufficient quality and range of data across priority areas, and timely access to strategic information will help to drive change in the program. Similarly, the mid-term review for the malaria strategy 2021-2025 will have a component for strategic information and recommendations for NSP update/revision. Strategic information improvement is explicit under Objective 4 of the National TB Strategic Plan 2021-2025 with a focus on improvement of recording and reporting, moving to electronic information system and integration with eNHIS, capacity building, and improvement of M&E systems. All three programs do have systems for data quality improvement (some, not so evolved).
Data quality review will be combined with health facility assessment for TB and HIV. Malaria program is excluded because a health facility assessment has been already conducted.
Deliverables
Purpose/ Specific Objective of the Activity
The purpose of the assignment is to provide technical support to the National HIV, TB and malaria programs in designing, implementing and analyzing findings from an external data quality review.
- Description of Activities to be carried out
The consultant, in coordination and close collaboration with the National Department of Health and WHO Papua New Guinea, will undertake a program of work to support the design, implementation, monitoring, and analysis of findings of external data quality review for National HIV, TB, and malaria programs combined with health facility assessment for TB and HIV and will provide recommendations for data quality improvement. The consultant will work closely with and guided by the Steering Committee under the leadership of NDOH, NDOH M&E technical working group, TB, HIV, TB/HIV joint and malaria technical working groups.
In general, external data quality review combined with health facility assessment will be conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1 will include the development of the methodology of data quality review and health facility assessment for TB and HIV with sampling framework, questionnaire, selection of core indicators, and detailed workplan with timelines in consultation with the Steering Committee and the technical working groups mentioned above. Phase 2 will include a desk review of the data that have been reported to the national level, field visits to selected health facilities using data collection tools for data verification and evaluation of the adequacy of the information system to produce quality data (system assessment) along with health facility assessment for TB and HIV. Phase 3 will include data analysis and report writing.
The following outputs and deliverables will be delivered:
Output 1. Design (methodology) external data quality review and health facility assessment based on WHO guidelines
- Deliverable 1.1: Design of DQR with combined health facility assessment developed
- Deliverable 1.2: Tools for DQR and health facility assessment developed, and pilot tested
- Deliverable 1.3 Design and tools presented to the Steering Committee and finalized
Output 2. Desk review of the data that have been reported to the national level and recent DQRs conducted where relevant
- Deliverable 2.1 Desk review conducted. Deliverable 2.2 Desk review findings presented to the Steering Committee and finalized.
Output 3. Field visits to selected health facilities for data verification and system assessment
- Deliverable 3.1 Training of field teams on data collection for DQR and health facility assessment conducted.
- Deliverable 3.2 Regular review of collected data.
Output 4. Data analysis and report writing
- Deliverable 4.1 Summary of key findings and recommendations
- Deliverable 4.2 Detailed report on external DQR with combined health facility assessment
- Deliverable 4.3 Power point presentation of DQR findings and recommendations to the Global Fund and stakeholder
- Methods to carry out the activities
Methods and activities will include the following:
- Desk review of HIV, NTP and malaria program data reported to the national level, reporting on eNHIS.
- DQR and health facility assessment tools development and pilot testing.
- Training of field team.
- Field visits to selected health facilities.
- Meetings with relevant stakeholders, Steering Committee, and technical working groups.
- Delivery of training, mentoring and coaching sessions.
Planned timelines (Approximate): 7 Months
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential:
Master’s Degree in Medicine (MD, MB BS) and/or Public Health, and/or Epidemiology, and/or Social Sciences or related area
Experience
Essential:
More than 7 years of public health work experience of which at least 3 years in communicable diseases, including TB, HIV and malaria
Experience in supporting the government in data quality reviews, monitoring and evaluation
Familiarity with WHO guidelines and tools on data quality review and health facility assessment
Desirable:
- Previous experience of supporting Papua New Guinea
Skills/Knowledge
- Excellent knowledge of communicable disease epidemiology,
- Experience in data analysis, use of software programs to analyse data
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Demonstrated capacity to write clearly and concisely and communicate in English
Ability to work as part of a team, and high level of interpersonal skills to work with National Department of Health and partners
- Technical Supervision
The selected partner will work on the supervision of:
Responsible Officer:
Dr Narantuya Jadambaa, Medical officer, WHO PNG
Email:
Manager:
Dr Gurung Anup, Team Leader, Communicable Diseases, WHO PNG
Email:
- Location
Please specify where the consultant will work:
On site: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (please indicate location/address).
- Travel – Travel to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is required
- WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
- WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.