Consultants - Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is a leading international organization helping children in need around the world. First established in the UK in 1919, separate national organizations have been set up in more than twenty-eight countries, sharing the aim of improving the lives of children through education, health care and economic opportunities, as well as emergency aid in cases of natural disasters, war and conflict.

In Nigeria, Save the Children has been working since 2001. The early focus was on getting children actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Today, Save the Children is working in seven federal states - Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna - focusing on providing basic healthcare and protecting children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Terms of Reference for a Consultant to Conduct Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) Training for Health Workers in Kaduna State

Location: Kaduna

Background
The core intervention of Integrated Management of Childhood illness (IMCI) is the integrated management of the most important causes of mortalities among children- Pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, measles and malnutrition. In health facilities, IMCI strategy promotes identification of childhood illnesses in the outpatient settings and provision of appropriate treatment and referrals.

The training of health workers is a key component of integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI) strategy. However, the coverage of IMCI training still remains low in many countries including Nigeria. The baseline study carried out prior to the commencement of the HCB project in the three HCB project states affirmed this position.  As was presented in the baseline report[1], among 208 health facilities assessed, only 41% knew of IMCI as an intervention while only half have had the training. However, the coverage of health workers trained on IMCI still remains low in Nigeria. For us to achieve an appreciable level of IMCI coverage, more front line health workers have to be reached through IMCI trainings.

The implementation of IMCI involves three components:

•  Improving the skills of health workers
•  Improving the health system and
•  Improving family and community practices

Objectives

• To enhance the skills of health workers in tackling common childhood illnesses at the facility level.
• To improve the capacity of health workers to be able to interview caretakers, accurately recognize clinical signs, choose appropriate treatments, and provide counselling and preventive care using the IMCI guidelines.
• To improve the clinical and interpersonal skills of trainees on IMCI
• To enable trainees to be supportive of each other in their health facilities
• Baseline Assessment to gauge the capacity of Health Worker to effectively deliver quality MNCH Services in selected Health facilities in Lagos, Kaduna and Gombe States

Scope of the Training Consultancy

• The training will focus on delivering high quality trainings for health workers based on the National IMCI Manual. Each training batch will be for 30 participants and would span for six days.
• There would be a Consultant who is the lead facilitator and 4 additional resource persons/facilitators to facilitate this training. IMCI training is a skills based training that would require consultant working with other facilitators. Save the Children MNCH Advisor and Senior Child Health Advisor will also support the team of facilitators in ensuring an effective conduct of the training.

Key Responsibilities and Duties of the Consultant

• Develop a training agenda for Facility IMCI training for health workers and conduct a pre-training planning meeting to agree on agenda developed.
• Prepare training materials and co-facilitate with five (5) other facilitators for six (6) day training on the IMCI training packages.
• Train health workers staff on necessary skills using IMCI checklist and training Manuals.
• Conduct pre and post training evaluation of all trainees at the beginning of the training, and the end of training.
• Compile and share the session/training evaluation and feedback report with the Save the Children team.
• As the lead facilitator, compile a comprehensive training report in collaboration with the other facilitators. Specific emphasis should be on the training content, process, and linkages to capacity building strategies.

Key Responsibilities of the Co- Facilitators

• Participate in the pre-training planning meeting and agree on agenda.
• Facilitate training sessions of health workers staff on necessary skills using IMCI checklist and training manuals.
• Support the Consultant to compile a comprehensive training report. Specific emphasis should be on the training content, process, and linkages to capacity building strategies. A comprehensive training report with pre- and post-evaluation and pictures
• The following cadres are targeted for this training- CHEWs, nurses, midwives and where applicable doctors

Methodology

• Training would entail the use of generic WHO IMCI Training Modules (7) in number. It uses adult learning techniques such as role plays, discussions, reading, audio-visuals, and lecture presentations by participants, demonstrations, case study practices and clinical practice in a facility with a high case load of paediatric cases per month.

Quality of Training

• A SC developed training standards checklist would also be administered by the Senior Child Advisor aimed at improving quality of the trainings conducted.

Qualifications
Desired consultant should possess the following:

• Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Medicine, Health Management or Nurse Midwife
• At least 5 years’ experience in field work and coordination with international agencies and organisation in the field of child health intervention.
• A Certified IMCI Trainer with past experience in leading IMCI trainings
• Experience in provision of training is compulsory.
• Experience and knowledge in conducting trainings or working in Lagos state is required.
• Evidence of good writing and facilitation skills.

Application Closing Date
31st May, 2016.

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