Health Consultant (CARAMAL), Abuja at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Consultant (CARAMAL)

Job Number: 513380
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy

Background

• UNICEF is implementing the Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria (CARAMAL) project in Adamawa State, Nigeria, as part of multi-country (Nigeria, Uganda and DRC) operations research to inform effective roll-out of Rectal Artesunate Suppository (RAS) for pre-referral treatment of severe malaria. The initiative rests on ongoing UNICEF-Supported community case management (iCCM) program in Adamawa State, and is implemented by a consortium of UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH).
• Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness, death, and lost economic productivity globally. While the successful scale-up and use of critical commodities such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have resulted in a 48% decline in malaria-related mortality since 2000, malaria still results in over 400,000 deaths each year, of which most are children under-five and pregnant women.[1]
• Malaria mortality results from the progression of untreated or sub-optimally treated malaria to severe disease and that severe malaria almost invariably results in death if left untreated. In 2010 the disease killed an estimated 660,000 people largely children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa; the Republic of Congo and Nigeria account for more than 40% of estimated global malaria deaths (WHO, 2013). Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) reports Nigeria accounts for one quarter of all malaria cases in Africa, one of the world’s highest rates of all cause -mortality for children under five, and about one in six children die before their fifth birthday (FMOH, 2012).
• Malaria transmission was initially holoendemic in Nigeria. However, recent information has provided evidence of a progress divergence of in-country variation in malaria endemicity [Snow et al, 2013]. Hence as at 2010, it was estimated that 85% of Nigerians lived in areas supporting mesoendemic transmission, 15% lived under conditions of hyper-holoendemicity and areas within FCT Abuja, Adamawa and Borno States support hypoendemicity. Malaria has been reported to account for 35% of outpatient visits among children under five years of age in Nigeria [NDHS 2013].
• According to the World Malaria Report (2012), the entire population of Nigeria (estimated in 2011 at 189 million) is at risk of contracting malaria every year.
• Adamawa State is located in north eastern part of Nigeria challenged with security issues, hence the access to health care is also constrained as a result of the security challenges. UNICEF is currently implementing iCCM in Adamawa State with a significantly large target population. In order to address this public health challenge in the RAS project as an intervention will be piloted in Adamawa state using the iCCM structures in place to reach under 5 children in selected rural communities, by providing pre - referral treatment of severe malaria.

Rationale

• The RAS Pilot project requires close coordination and follow up on implementation. This position is to support the Federal ministry of health, national primary health care development agency, national malaria elimination program and other partners in the coordination of the implementation of the Rectal Artesunate Suppository (RAS) project at the national level in Abuja.
• The consultant will support the FMOH, NPHCDA and NMEP, other partners in implementing strategies towards achieving elimination in the national response to malaria. He/she will strengthen partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at national level, increased transparency and accountability, capacity building and the piloting of the pre- referral treatment of severe malaria within the context of iCCM towards achieving equity, community participation and effective referral systems.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished: (estimated time required to complete tasks. Attach additional sheets, if necessary, to describe assignments):

National level:

• Work with the FMOH, NPHCDA, NMEP and other partners to support planning, implementation and review of RAS project activities at the national level
• Support NPHCDA in the roll out and implementation of the CHIPs program
• Support FMOH and NPHCDA by providing technical assistance in strengthening referral system at the state/ LGA level
• Support FMOH, NPHCDA and NMEP in the collation and review RAS project data  from  implementing state
• Support FMOH, NPHCDA and NMEP in the contributing to the drafting of RAS project annual work plan in sync with the malaria program national work plan
• Support national to write timely RAS project reports
• Attending  malaria program donors and partners meetings on behalf of UNICEF
• Liaise with state counterpart in the periodic review of the progress on the project.

End Product:

• Annual State work and operational plans
• Quarterly RAS project review reports
• Final monthly progress reports containing achievement/ services data, stock update.
• Reports of Workshop/ training /Meetings with actionable recommendations.
• Quarterly reports of milestones achieved to advance project implementation.

Minimum Qualification

• University Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health and/or related technical field.
• Three years experience working on health research projects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language an asset. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.
• Knowledge of DHIS 2.0 platform for health data collection, collation and research.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions of the country
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF mission and professional values.

Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:

• 11.5 Months term is required for this assignment with possibility of renewal

Application Closing Date
8th June, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.