Consultant - Eye health and Hearing impairment)

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Background

The WHO aims to achieve control of noncommunicable diseases throughout the Western Pacific Region by targeting the reduction of morbidity and mortality of such conditions and diseases, including vision and hearing dysfunction. The Division supports integrated people-centered care approaches by strengthening primary health care services for prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment of target diseases and conditions along the life-course while ensuring to reach the unreached and achieving universal health coverage.

To address the impact of vision impairment and blindness in the Region, the WHO developed a regional action plan, Towards Universal Eye Health: A Regional Action Plan for the Western Pacific (2014–2019) which guided the direction of the eye health programmes in the Region for the past years. Recently, WHO launched the first World report on vision on 9 October 2019. The Report provides evidence on the magnitude of vision loss and its prevention and treatment, and rehabilitation. The Report has a strong focus on the need for people-centred eye-care services and integrated eye care within national health systems. The WHO Executive Board in its 146th Session adopted resolution EB146.R8 on ‘Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness’, formally recognizing the World report on vision and urging Member States to implement its recommendations. The resolution 73.4 was adopted by the 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly on 3 August 2020.

Given the unmet need for care associated with unoperated cataract and uncorrected refractive error, coupled with the fact that highly cost-effective interventions exist, effective cataract surgical coverage (eCSC) and effective refractive error coverage (eREC) serve as ideal proxy indicators to track changes in the availability, accessibility and quality of eye care services at the global level. Targets have been set for a 30% and 40% percentage point increase by 2030 in eCSC and eREC, respectively.

There is little data on the current situation of hearing impairment in the Region and access to care is very limited in many countries. Therefore, a consultant for eye health and hearing impairment is required at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Purpose

The Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND), Division of Programmes for Disease Control (DDC) would like to get an expert to provide technical support improvement of eye health and hearing impairment in the Western Pacific Region.

The consultant is expected to provide depth, understanding and expert guidance to ensure the 2030 regional targets are met.

Primary implementing partners will be the ministries of health. Some activities will be carried out in collaboration with technical partners and academic institutions.

Planned timelines

· Start: 15 January 2024 · End: 15 December 2024

335 days OR 11 months

Output (s)

a. Coordinate activities on sensory functions (Eye health and Hearing impairment) in the region and liaise with country offices in context of systems strengthening and cross cutting work in relation to diabetes and hypertension.

b. Develop sensory health strategies and initiatives consistent with regional and national priorities and facilitate engagement of Members States and the development of the forum strategy thereby ensuring the effective functioning of collaborative work on hearing impairment activities in the region.

c. Prepare for and support delivery of the newly developed packages of essential eye care interventions in the context of integrated people-centred eye care (IPEC); and, in collaboration with WHO CCs build capacities in health workers for eye health and hearing impairment especially at community level.

d. Conceptualize, develop layout, format and design promotional materials and activities agreed as part of the public awareness strategy related to eye health and hearing loss activities and assist in conducting workshops in collaboration with relevant WHO CCs and the WPRO Team lead.

e. Support activities of the unit toward the implementation of the Regional Action Framework for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, including integration of eye and ear health.

Deliverables

15 January – 15 December 2024

Deliverable 1.1 An updated report on current status and good practice of IPEC for the Region. Deliverable 1.2 An updated report on current status and good practices relating to hearing impairment. Deliverable 1.3 Sensory health promotional materials, presentations and meeting reports. Deliverable 1.4 Monthly Progress Report on the activities covering the following areas:

a. Support in the design, adaption, implementation, and evaluation of IPEC initiatives in country. This will include provision of trainings on IPEC and contributing to existing and new learning networks to document and disseminate lessons and best practices in IPEC in low-resource settings.

b. Support to countries to develop (or adapt) and efficiently implement evidence- based clinical practice guidelines and policies for IPEC/eye health.

c. Support to countries to develop (or adapt) and efficiently implement evidence- based clinical practice guidelines and policies for hearing impairment.

d. Support in the identification of research and innovation priorities relating to eye health in the context of IPEC.

e. Support for countries to build capacity of relevant stakeholders to prepare for and deliver the newly developed packages of essential eye care interventions in the context of IPEC.

f. Support the preparation of national advocacy events and stakeholders’ consultation workshop, including the development of background documents, formal presentations, and guidance for stakeholder forums.

Methods to carry out the activity

• · Regular meeting with country office focal points
• · Prepare the background and key documents, and compile relevant data
• · Produce a high quality reports on the sensory health initiatives in the context of the NCD regional framework
• · Perform other related work as required

Specific requirements

- Qualifications required

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in public health, infectious diseases or any health-related field from a recognized institution or university.
• Desirable: Postgraduate (master's level) training in the fields related to public health, noncommunicable disease, and eye and ear health.

- Experience required

• Essential: Minimum five years' relevant work experience in control of noncommunicable diseases, particularly in eye and ear health including but not limited to public health measures to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases including exposure to international level.
• Desirable: Experience in managing large teams at national and international levels; relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant nongovernmental organizations in the Western Pacific Region.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of concepts and strategies related to NCD prevention and control, especially eye and ear health.
• Skills in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions, and the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
• Good communication skills, ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing.
• Ability to coordinate with external partners as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

- Language requirements

• Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Competencies

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Producing Results
• Knowing and managing yourself

Place of assignment

The consultant will be based in Manila.

Medical clearance

The selected candidate will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The consultant maybe required to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training, etc.).

Additional Information: This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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