STC Communicable Diseases

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BACKGROUND

After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a renewed need for health systems to resume and strengthen national programmes on communicable diseases.

For HIV/AIDS, in 2018 Malaysia became the first country in the region to be certified for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis. The country is now scheduled to undergo a maintenance review process as a follow-up to this validation. Malaysia is also well positioned to set a goal of Triple Elimination (HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B).

After a baseline assessment of the situation on hepatitis C in Malaysia in 2018, many strategic developments have been in place by the Ministry of Health and its partners, including the conduct of a national seroprevalence survey, and the decentralization of HCV screening and treatment services. Another initiative in moving forward is to build the country’s capacity to generate its own estimates and projections of HCV burden and impact of intervention programmes.

For other communicable diseases programmes, this is an important time to review new priorities as well as to address previous gaps and challenges, particularly due to the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of programmes. In addition to disease-specific programmes, an overall view of the healthcare system within the context of ‘Reaching the Unreached’ is also very timely, as one of the four pillars of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office’s ‘For the Future’ vision.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support and management of programmes relating to communicable diseases in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of the WHO Representative, the consultant is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:

a) Function as the Country Office focal person for HIV, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections. This may include:

a Coordination of collaborations and communications with the Regional Office and the country Ministry of Health counterparts.

b Coordination of a scheduled Maintenance Review of the Validation of Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT).

c Management of any activities facilitated by the Country Office, especially those through the Joint United Nations Programme of HIV/AIDS and its Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF).

d Facilitation and provision of technical support to country partners on activities relating to HIV, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections, upon need.

b) Function as the Country Office focal person for tuberculosis, leprosy and other communicable diseases. This may include:

a Liaison with the Regional Office and respective disease programmes within the Ministries of Health.

b Management of any activities facilitated by the Country Office.

c) Management of strategic information relating to communicable diseases in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. This includes surveillance and response data from different disease programmes, administrative health systems and basic demographic data.

d) Function as the Country Office focal person for the development of the Regional Framework on Reaching the Unreached (RtU), including:

a Liaison with the Regular Office in providing progress update reports.

b Coordinating in-country stakeholders’ engagement.

e) Other duties as assigned by the WR

Deliverables

1. Progress updates of the implementation of communicable diseases programmes facilitated by the WHO Country Office.

2. Report on the Maintenance Review of the Validation of Elimination of Mother-to Child Transmission of HIV and syphilis.

3. Reports on other duties

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: University degree in health, biological, social sciences or other related fields. An advanced degree (Master level or above) in public health or epidemiology.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in public health. Knowledge on infectious disease epidemiology, prevention and control.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

i. Excellent communication skills, including written and verbal skills

ii. Ability to work under pressure

iii. Ability to work in a team with limited supervision

LANGUAGES Proficient in written and spoken English (Read ‐ Write ‐ Speak / Expert or Intermediate)

COMPETENCIES

Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Moving forward in a changing environment

Ensuring the effective use of resources

Fostering Integration and teamwork

Communication in a credible and effective way

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Duty Station: Malaysia

Duration of Contract: 8 months starting 18 April 2022

Medical: The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work. A medical certification of fitness is valid for one year unless new event has occurred. Travel: No travel is expected

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 and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly 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.