Consultant – Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) and Immunization Surveillance, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Purpose of consultancy

The WHO Country Liaison Office, Federated States of Micronesia is seeking technical assistance to support the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of the Department of Health of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Ministry of Health of Republic of Palau with the following objectives:

To strengthen the immunization system and improve vaccination coverage including reducing inequities of vaccination coverage with a special focus on reaching the unreached target groups; To strengthen the Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) surveillance systems including improving the detection and reporting of VPDs cases; and To support implementation of measles-rubella elimination activities toward possible verification in 2025.

Background

WHO Country Liaison Office for Northern Micronesia is actively engaged in delivering technical assistance to the national and state governments of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau, specifically focusing on VPDs and immunization programmes. Over the past two decades, these countries have achieved remarkable milestones in VPDs and immunization including, remaining polio-free since 2000, attaining maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, and effectively managing immunization programmes during the widespread measles outbreaks in the Pacific in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and response resulted in disruption of routine immunization and VPD surveillance leading to a decline in immunization coverage and suboptimal performance in surveillance. In response to the backsliding of the immunization programmes, the Ministries of Health in these countries conducted catch-up vaccination campaigns, built the capacity of the health workforce through Immunization in Practice training, and reviewed their national immunization policies and strategies. Vaccination coverages are on an upward trajectory, showing progress. However, 2022 data reveals variation in vaccination coverage by antigens at subnational levels especially in outer islands, with low MCV1 and MCV2 coverage, particularly in FSM and RMI. To address this, there is an urgent need to implement targeted activities aimed at strengthening the system, with a focus on reaching unreached populations to enhance overall coverage.

While routine immunization remains the cornerstone of primary health care programme, a well-functioning VPD surveillance system is critical and allows sensitive and timely detection, reporting, investigation, and response to VPDs. Although there are established surveillance systems, detection, reporting, investigation and management of VPDs vary by disease in these countries, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive efforts for system strengthening. VPD surveillance and data management also continue to face challenges in these countries exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to improve the performance of surveillance indicators in these countries through capacity-building activities, monitoring and supportive supervision to enhance the detection, reporting and investigation of VPD cases.

In May 2022, the Sub-Regional Verification Committee (SRVC) for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Pacific decided during its 10th meeting, to request the Regional Verification Commission (RVC) for measles and rubella elimination for the verification of measles and rubella elimination in the Pacific as one epidemiological block in 2025. In this regard, the SRVC with support from WHO, developed the “Pacific Strategies and Plan of Action for achieving measles and rubella elimination in the Pacific” which countries and areas in the Pacific need to implement including strengthening their systems.

In light of these considerations, WHO is planning to provide strategic and technical support to the National Immunization Programmes (NIPs) and Ministries in these three countries. The objective is to strengthen routine immunization and VPD surveillance systems and programmes and to sustain and achieve national and regional immunization goals. To facilitate this support, WHO is seeking to recruit a highly experienced immunization specialist for a minimum duration of ten months.

Deliverables

The consultant will be based in Pohnpei, the Federated State of Micronesia, with visits to the Marshall Islands and Palau conducted based on identified needs. Throughout this assignment, the consultant will work under the overall guidance of the FSM Country Liaison Officer, and technical guidance from Technical Officer Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization (VDI) at the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) Office in Fiji. The consultant will collaborate closely with the NIPs, surveillance units and health Ministries of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau. The scope of the responsibilities encompasses planning, preparing, implementing and monitoring of the mentioned activities requiring frequent visits to countries and sub-national levels.

Output 1: Strengthened routine immunization system and programme toward reaching the unreached and increasing vaccination coverage for all the vaccines of national schedule in these three countries.

Deliverables:

• Develop/update guidance/SOPs for national immunization programme;
• Plan, prepare, implement and monitor targeted immunization activities including catch-up vaccination, integrated service delivery services at national and subnational levels;
• Support in the integration of COVID-19 vaccination services and other platforms into the routine immunization system;
• Support the Ministries to integrate routine vaccination services into outreach programmes;
• Support measles-rubella elimination activities including immunity gap analysis and catch-up vaccination activities;
• Support in conducting capacity-building activities for human resources in Micronesia and Marshall Islands including microplanning;
• Data management including analysis and ensuring timely reporting of coverage data;
• Facilitate developing/conducting refresher training on demand generation and communication activities; and
• Regularly monitor immunization activities.

Output 2: Strengthened VPDs and AEFI surveillance system including its quality and increased detection, management and reporting of VPDs cases.

Deliverables:

• Support to develop/update VPD surveillance guidance document/manual;
• Support and facilitate VPD surveillance activities including capacity-building of staff toward facilitate improving detection and reporting VPD cases and responding to outbreaks; and
• AEFI surveillance training ensuring vaccine safety monitoring and timely AEFI investigation and management;

Output 3: Prepare and submit mission reports.

Deliverables:

• Monthly reports submitted to the Technical Officer-VDI at the WHO DPS Office;
• Prepare the final mission report with overview of the immunization activities and thorough analyses and recommendations and submit it to WHO Country Liaison Office (by end of mission).

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Postgraduate degree in public health, medicine, from a recognized university or its equivalent. Desirable: Training in Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).

Experience

Essential: Seven years of relevant experience and/or experience in the field of immunization programmes at the country level is essential. Desirable: Working experiences in WHO or UNICEF country office and/or working experience in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) or in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential: Sound knowledge in the planning, preparation, implementation and monitoring of various activities in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance programme. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct. Motivated, highly organized, critical thinker with strong analytical skills.

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of spoken and written English

Location

Onsite at WHO Country Liaison Office, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (70%) with visits to the Republic of Marshall Islands and Palau

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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