Contract

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Organizational Setting

The Myanmar National Health Plan 2017 – 2021 (NHP) promotes a “data culture” for “evidence-based decision-making” using health information systems (HIS) and information and communications technology (ICT) in the health sector”. Reliable data captured in a functioning HIS by both paper-based and electronic based across all eHealth applications and services are critical for achieving better health outcomes, including making progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving health service delivery and patient care. Myanmar has been using DHIS2 platform for eHealth since 2014, with support from University of Oslo (UiO), Society for Health Information Systems Programmes (HISP) – India, and WHO. Two official production instances of DHIS2 have been set up: Health Management Information System (HMIS) and AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM), under two dedicated management and support structures. WHO is providing IT support by deploying seconded staff to HMIS and ATM (AIDS, TB and Malaria) under department of public health.

The HMIS of MoHS has initiated its first step of movement from paper-based reporting to electronic reporting in 2014 with the use of DHIS2 piloted in two townships with the technical support from University of Oslo. The platform has been fully deployed as the national reporting platform after the phased expansion within 2014 to 2017. From 2018 onwards public health information are reported through the DHIS2 platform by all townships.

With the maturity of reporting through the DHIS2 platform, decentralization of data entry from township level to sub-township level was introduced in three townships of Kayin State in 2019. The decentralization process was also practicing in additional five townships: one in Kayin State, two in Mandalay Region, one in Bago Region, and one in Sagaing Region. With the decentralized process, focal persons from Rural Health Centers (RHCs) submit the report of respective sub-RHC facilities, and this makes data disaggregation by sub-RHC level available. In addition to public health information system, the DHIS2 application has been introduced to hospital health information system since 2018. By the end of 2020, a total of 1,041 public hospitals reported through the DHIS2 platform deploying the aggregate and event capture modules.

Moving towards building of national data repository and integrated data analysis and utilization, DHIS2 instances integration for ATM and HMIS was conducted during the last quarter of 2020. There is a need to ensure smooth functioning of national data warehouse and sustainability of the current achievements and its expansion. Meanwhile, the area of data quality assurance and data use needs to be improved at all levels of health system.

Based on the above situation, WHO with the funding support from Global Fund will recruit a DHIS2 Officer to be placed in Naypyitaw to provide overall technical support for implementation of DHIS2 platform throughout the country. This support will be broad, holistic and additional to the IT support WHO is already providing. Under the direct supervision of Scientist (malaria control) and overall guidance of WHO Representative, Myanmar, the incumbent supports the HMIS directorate, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health & Sports, and would perform the following tasks mentioned in the section below.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with and provide technical support to HMIS, MoHS for ensuring the smooth functioning of the integrated DHIS2 data warehouse and implementation of relevant deliverables in WHO-MoHS collaborative programme on health information system and DHIS2 integration, and relevant indicators and targets of National Health Plans 2017-21 and 2022-26, HO country cooperation strategy for Myanmar 2019-23 and Myanmar’s sustainable development plan 2018-2030.
• Work with international DHIS2 experts identified by MoHS & WHO and provide technical support on DHIS2 software management, software maintenance, monitoring of implementation, supportive supervision, in‐time feedback, technical trouble shooting and on job training as necessary
• Develop guidelines and SOP for the users at different levels of the system including implementing partners, community volunteers, and community-based organizations
• Develop training materials for public health information, hospital information, and ATM users
• Develop training plans and conduct trainings for DHIS2 users (public health, hospitals, ATM)
• Work with HMIS team and provide hands on capacity building for software maintenance and ad-hoc customizations as needed
• Work with HMIS team on improving data quality and promoting data use at all levels: preparing the data quality assurance plan and data use framework for different levels of health system
• Identify strengths and weakness of implementation of DHIS2 at different levels and provide on the job training to address the weakness, as necessary.
• Conduct relevant assignments from HMIS DoPH and WHO supervisors

Work Relations and Partnerships

The incumbent is expected to have skills and expertise on overall DHIS2 software, its management and implementation at different levels and institutions in Myanmar. S/he should have the capacity to support and solve DHIS2 technical problem and fixing them. Most importantly the incumbent needs to work closely with government officials, WHO and related stakeholders especially who are working in the areas of DHIS2 implementation.

Impact of functions

The function plays a key role with respect to the clients served through the delivery of technical support on DHIS2 based programme planning, implementation, coordination and capacity building in a collaborative approach between WHO, HMIS team, Ministry of Health & Sports and related stakeholders.

Qualifications

Educational background

• A Master degree is required. Preferable in public health, social science, information and statistics or related field.
• In the case of unavailability of candidate with the educational background mentioned in above bullet point, candidate with 5 years of experiences in related field with a Bachelor Degree in public health may be considered

professional experience and knowledge

• Minimum 5 years of experiences in health information and statistics field as well as in monitoring and evaluation field is required.

Skills/ Technical Skills and knowledge

• Expertise in DHIS2 training and implementation and monitoring on DHIS2 is essential.
• Experiences in strengthening of Health Management Information System and guiding the use of information at different levels of health system including hospital and institutional level is essential
• Experience in communication with Myanmar Government Ministries’ context would be an asset.
• Computer and information technology literacy, including demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and GIS would be an asset.
• Experience in health information system strengthening programms would be required.

language skills

• Essential: English, Myanmar (Read, Write, Speak)

Competencies

• Communicating in a credible and effective manner: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others; listen actively.
• Producing results: Produces and delivers quality results. This should be action oriented and committed to achieving outcomes.
• Knowing and managing yourself: Manages ambiguity and pressure in a self-reflective way. Uses criticism as a development opportunity, seeking guidance where necessary.
• Teamwork: Able to work in a team having different cultures and background.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and strict no smoking policy.