Consultants at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in over 20 countries around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves.

We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation. Save the Children’s mission is to Inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Engagement of Consultant Conduct of on-the-Job Training of frontline Health Workers for 3 States (Gombe, Kaduna and Lagos) on common childhood illnesses

Locations: Gombe, Kaduna and Lagos States

Background
Nigeria accounts for nearly one-quarter of Africa’s maternal and newborn deaths. Despite investments made in maternal and child health services, Nigeria has the ninth worst child mortality rate in the world. One out of every eight children born in Nigeria will not reach their fifth birthday, often as a result of common and easily preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. While child mortality rates have significantly reduced in Nigeria, reductions in newborn mortality have been far less significant. Poor health outcomes for newborn babies and children under five are due largely to weaknesses in the supply and quality of health services delivered, as a result of limited human resources, a lack of lifesaving commodities and equipment, and inadequate infrastructure.

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001 and is a strong, recognised and respected voice for children’s rights. We work closely with the Nigerian national and local governments in order to develop sustainable, replicable and scalable projects that bring lasting change to children’s lives and help them to reach their potential. We are currently implementing some of the most innovative and large-scale health programmes in the country and will maximise synergies with these in order to leverage the impact of GSK-supported programmes as far as possible.

GSK’s support will enable Save the Children to improve access to lifesaving healthcare, by directly building the capacity of 5,000 frontline health workers. We will focus on improving skills in areas with the highest potential to positively impact maternal and child health outcomes, and which have been identified as gaps through observation at service delivery level and in consultation with Ministry of Health partners. In addition, by supporting activities to influence policy change, GSK’s support will contribute towards an overall goal of improving the quality of health services and reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in Lagos, Gombe and Kaduna states in Nigeria.

Objectives

• To strengthen the knowledge and skills of trainees on identification of signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses at the facility level.
• To improve the capacity of trainees to assess, classify and manage common childhood illnesses and malnutrition.
• To equip trainees with the skill to identify danger signs and  refer.

Activities
Two (2) consultants will:

• Train two hundred and forty (240) health workers in selected Primary Health Care facilities in each of the 3 states, thereafter to observe and provide guidance and direction on the management of common childhood illnesses.
• Observe HWs during Routine child welfare clinics using IMCI checklist to assess skills gaps in the management of sick children that present within the facilities.
• Use IMCI Chart booklets to train the HWs reflecting National Guidelines in the management of childhood illnesses.
• On-the-Job training will begin from 1st February to 30th April 2016.
• Monthly summaries of Training activities and report. First report due by 5th March 2015; Second report due by 5th April 2015 and third report due by 5th May 2015.

Requirements
Type of Consultants:

Resource persons should possess any of the following:

• A pediatrician with at least 5 years post qualification
• Health professional (doctor, nurse/midwife) with IMCI Training
• Past experience with delivery of trainings for INGOs.
• Participants should be resident in the state of assignment
• Familiarity with the SMOH or PHCDA an advantage.

Expected Outputs:

• Trainees acquire knowledge and skills to identify the signs and symptom of common childhood illnesses and manage them appropriately at Facility level.
• Trainees equipped with the skills to identify complications and danger signs as well as  demonstrate pre-referral management of the child where necessary  
• A final comprehensive report on the training.
• Report should include training list of participants, checklist; photos of training sessions (at least 6 photos for each training), challenges/lessons learned during the training and recommendations.

Application Closing Date
14th January, 2016.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online