National Consultant for Zero leprosy Programme

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant is expected to provide coordinate and implement the Zero Leprosy programme and subsequent supporting activities under the Zero Leprosy Framework

Background

Leprosy is a disease that predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, resulting in neuropathy and associated long-term consequences, including deformities and disability. Patients suffering from leprosy harbor very large numbers of bacilli in the body affecting the systems and body organs. While in previous times it was common in temperate climates (e.g., Europe), today leprosy is mainly confined to tropical and subtropical regions.

In terms of prevalence, Maldives was enlisted as a high endemic country in 1982 and the prevalence rate was 96.64 per 10,000 populations. Multidrug therapy (MDT) was introduced, and 100% coverage was achieved by end of 1982. Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem target was reached in 1997. For the past ten years an average seven new cases were reported in Maldives. None of the new cases had Grade 2 disabilities (G2D cases). Maldives recorded high treatment completion rates and in 2017 the Pauci bacillary case treatment completion rate was 100% and multi bacillary case treatment completion rate was 83%. Maldives expressed the need for developing a roadmap for leprosy services in low endemic settings and validation of status of elimination of leprosy

Objectives

• Developing and implementing activities to reach zero leprosy among indigenous population
• Implement the concept of “leprosy-free islands in Maldives’ for moving forward in reaching ‘Zero-leprosy status in Maldives’
• Recording achievements of the leprosy program in terms of reaching national targets and gaps in program implementation.
• Strengthen and monitor the ongoing leprosy surveillance along with other NTDs.
• Effective community engagement and awareness in the community and among healthcare professionals.
• Assist in developing SOPs and implementing at program level.
• Zero leprosy among indigenous population

Deliverables

Submission of the monthly progress report

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in Public health/Social sciences/communication/project management field

Desirable: Master’s degree/PhD in health sciences/ public health/ social sciences/project management field

Experience

Essential: Minimum 1 year experience in the field of health program management and/or coordination

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to coordinate projects programs
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver variety of tasks on time
• Ability to carry out the tasks independently with self-confidence
• Confident in presenting to a high-level audience
• Strong interpersonal skills and coordinational skills
• Computer literate and strong layout skills and incredible typography skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills in both Dhivehi and English
• Ability to work within given time period and deliver work on time with outstanding quality

Languages

Expert knowledge of Dhivehi and English

Location

On site: Health Protection Agency – Male’, Maldives

Travel

Travel maybe required as per the trainings and screening needs for the Zero Leprosy Programme

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• • Remuneration: MVR. 20,000/- (depending on qualification)
  • Expected duration of contract: From 1st July 2022 to 31 May 2023
  • Placement: Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health Maldives

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 ccredited/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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women are encouraged.

• 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.

• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.