BACKGROUND

Communicable diseases malaria, NTDs, HIV and TB continue to be major challenges to control and eliminate in the Solomon Islands.

The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) together with MHMS introduced the Solomon Islands Malaria Roadmap of Malaria Elimination in 2018, raising malaria elimination high on the Government’s agenda. Moreover, the NVBDCP has played a key role in the reorganization of the MHMS since 2015, aiming to finalize the change from a vertical programme to one that is fully integrated into the health system. The Global Fund has provided adequate funding for NVBDCP to implement the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025 to accelerate malaria elimination through distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, quality case management and strengthened surveillance and community mobilization.

The Solomon Islands is endemic for six of the 20 NTDs globally identified and targeted for eradication, elimination or intensified control under the Global Roadmap for NTDs 2021-2030. Those six NTDs are dengue, leprosy, trachoma, yaws, scabies and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Preventive chemotherapy in the form of mass drug administration is the most effective strategy to achieve elimination of trachoma, yaws and scabies and intensified control of STH in the Solomon Islands. Donated medicines namely azithromycin, ivermectin and albendazole are available in the country for mass treatment campaigns. A school deworming programme commenced in 2015 has not progressed satisfactorily but a recently established unit and programme for NTDs within the structure of the MHMS should help to intensify interventions. Plans are underway for implementing integrated mass drug administration to eliminate scabies and yaws together.

The National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) is one of the six priority programmes of MHMS. The Global Fund is the major donor partner and WHO is the technical partner of the programme. The NTP is guided by the NSP, which lays out the vision, goals and objectives of the national programme. Moreover, the country has low HIV prevalence; MHMS works in the field of HIV and is guided by the National HIV/STIs Strategic Plan 2019-2023. For the first time, this NSP integrates hepatitis as well. A study in 2015 revealed that 37% of women and 49% of men know how to access an HIV test, screening among antenatal women was 14.1%, and 28% in TB patients.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The Consultant will support Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to deliver intensified malaria control and elimination activities and specified activities to prevent, control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), HIV and tuberculosis (TB).

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The Consultant will work under overall supervision of the Responsible Officer in the Solomon Islands with guidance and input from WHO Country Office Technical Officer and support staff. The Consultant will have the following deliverables:

• • Develop and facilitate vector control plans to prevent malaria, including microplanning, training and distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), training guidance and filed implementation of indoor residual spraying (IRS) in selected provinces.
• • Finalize development of the national malaria elimination strategy, SOPs and training guidance ensuring WHO best practices on surveillance (2-4-7 strategy) including case and foci investigation, classification and response as well as entomological surveillance, insecticide resistance surveillance; conduct training at national and provincial levels on implementation of SOPs. Initiate surveillance plan and active case detection and response in select provinces.
• • Develop tools for the integration of malaria surveillance data into the national DHIS2 data platform and to provide effective subnational level malaria risk stratification maps; train provincial level staff on implementation of surveillance data entry changes and creation/utilization of stratification maps.
• • Conduct quality assurance exercises utilizing WHO tools to ensure effective parasite-based diagnostic and treatment services at health facilities using microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs); follow up recommendations to improve quality assurance system for both.
• • Conduct coordination meeting with NVBDCP, partners and donors to improve community mobilization of malaria surveillance including aggressive case detection and treatment, programme monitoring and evaluation in select provinces.
• • Assess processes for malaria medical supplies (diagnostics and treatments) including forecasting, supply chain and stock management at national and local levels; provide recommendations to minimize stock outs of essential diagnostic and treatment consumables, including Primaquine and G6PD tests for radical cure of vivax malaria.
• • Prepare malaria work plans, action plans, budgets, procurement specifications and reports as required by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund), and support submission of data for the annual national malaria report and WHO World Malaria Report.
• • Develop strategy and implementation plans for school-based deworming, integrated mass drug administration for elimination of yaws and scabies; monitor and evaluate implementation progress and assist with the preparation and approval of dossiers on validation of elimination
• • Lead the supervision of WHO Communicable Diseases’ counterparts (i.e. TB and HIV) to support the coordination, communication, implementation and monitoring of national strategies together with national counterparts and relevant partners and donors, including The Global Fund.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

1. The consultant will work with staff from the NVBDCP, the national focal points for NTD, TB and HIV, partners and donors to gather the required background documentation and material to initiate development of strategies, SOPs, training guidance and implementation and monitoring plans.
2. He/she will coordinate and technically support malaria elimination planning, guidelines and field operations development as per planned ‘2-4-7’ surveillance notification and response plan including LLIN distribution, use of IRS in target areas, community mobilization, cases detection and treatment and programme monitoring.
3. The consultant will cooperate with local partners, donors, research institutions and other stakeholders for malaria and NTDs to support partner coordination, harmonize programme implementation and to strengthen the national programmes and the general health services.
4. He/she will collaborate with the NVBDCP and other national counterparts at national and subnational levels as required to ensure programme planning, organization, implementation, scale-up and evaluation of malaria, NTDs, HIV and TB activities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

• • Primary or Post graduate degree in Medicine, Tropical Medicine, Entomology or other related areas

EXPERIENCE

• • Proven expertise and experience in health project management, evaluations, health programme assessment, guideline, training, SOP development and programme audits
• • Experience with malaria (or communicable diseases) programme activity implementation
• • Experience working on GFATM grants and developing funding requests
• • Experience in working with WHO WPR malaria-endemic countries

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Good organizational and interpersonal skills
• • Knowledgeable in WHO guidance for malaria and other communicable diseases        

LANGUAGES

• • Proficiency in written and spoken English

COMPETENCIES

• • Communicating in a credible and effective way
• • Effective planning and timely meeting of deadlines
• • Effective leadership and proven abilities to work in team

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Duty station: Solomon Islands

Duration of contract: 11.5 Months starting 15 January 2022

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > by 25 November 2021. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 154746 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.