National Consultant- Immunization Service Delivery

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 14 Feb 2022 at 22:59 UTC

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1.Purpose of consultancy

The consultant is expected to provide support in the COVID-19 vaccine service delivery, management of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) and support implementation of recommendations of the COVID & HPV vaccines PIE 2021.

2. Background

  • The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Maldives has achieved considerable success in preventing and controlling vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). According to WHO-UNICEF best estimates, at national level the programme has succeeded in maintaining coverage for all EPI antigens over 95% for more than a decade. The country was among the earliest in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) to achieve maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE), eradicate polio, be verified to have eliminated measles and rubella, and introduce a hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) birth dose. Recent years have seen the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), and, most recently human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Reporting of the EPI target diseases (polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, neonatal tetanus (NT)) is mandatory and based on clinical and/or laboratory evidence. However, the program has been subject to several challenges in the past few years owing to limited staff, rapid staff over of staff and vacant positions of manager/coordinator and limited supervision/monitoring and training at field levels.

  • The EPI review of 2019 and the Post Introduction Evaluation Assessment of COVID19 vaccine, found significant challenges and provided several recommendations that needs to be urgently addressed, one of which is the chronic HR capacity of the program. If not addressed, several gains of the program especially in terms of maintaining and sustaining high immunization coverage will be challenged. As the ability of the EPI to meet its objectives and goals largely depends on the knowledge, skills, motivation and deployment of the human resources responsible for planning, organizing and delivering services, there is an urgent need to support a local consultant to ensure smooth functioning of the program, taking into account the covid pandemic as well. The consultant is expected to provide support to the program to implement various activities of the Routine Immunization Program and WHO biennial workplan activities. The consultant is expected to work under guidance from WHO and MTAGI to support the HPA/MOH.

3. Objectives and Deliverables

  • Collect, collate, and analyze AEFI data from all health facilities and ensure timely submission to regional and global reporting platforms
  • Coordinate to conduct AEFI causality assessments
  • Coordinate with MFDA to report vaccine safety data to the VigiBase and VigiFlow
  • Support in piloting and rolling out of the routine immunization digitalization package
  • Support in Implementation of Hepatitis B Serosurvey
  • Support COVID vaccine roll out
  • Support Implementation of WHO Biennial Workplan Activities with the National Immunization Program and VPD surveillance Program
  • Support in implementation of COVID and HPV PIE review recommendations
  • Support to compile monthly eJRF reporting support and weekly vaccination coverage and AEFI reporting
  • Provide support to timely report EPI and VPD reports and documents to WHO as and when needed.
  • Support any other activities of Immunization Program including supportive supervision and monitoring
  • Coordinate to arrange trainings and participate in trainings as needed
  • Coordinate with relevant government agencies if and when required.
  • Closely communicate/coordinate with regional/atoll and island health center focal points, to make necessary arrangements to implement immunization activities
  • Travel to islands for supportive supervision and monitoring as needed

Deliverables

  • Submission of the monthly progress report

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in health sciences/ public health field/project management field

Desirable: Master’s degree/PhD in health sciences/ public health/ project management field. Experience in project management would be an added advantage

Experience

Essential: At least 2-3 years of previous experience in project management and program coordination will be an added advantage

Desirable: Work experience in Maldives and/or other developing countries in the Asian Region. Experience in working with UN agencies.

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 and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Essential: Expert knowledge of Dhivehi and English

5. Location

On site: Ministry of Health – Male’, Maldives

6. Travel

Travel maybe required as per the trainings and supervision and monitoring needs of the National Immunization Programme

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: MVR 20,000 per month

b. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): NA

c. Expected duration of contract: 6 months (From 1 February to 31 July 2022)

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.
  • 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.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: who.int