UNICEF CAMEROON
TERMS OF
REFERENCE
Ver. March 2015
Title of
Consultancy: Support 2015 Measles Rubella SIAs
(2
national Public Health/Epidemiology)
Planned Duration
of Consultancy: 2 months (2 positions)
Submitted by:
Young Child Survival Section
1.
Background
and Justification
As 4th
leading cause of child mortality in 2000, measles death is a major component to
achieving MDG4. Major cause of global morbidity and mortality with more than
375,000 deaths in 2000 and despite the availability of a safe and effective
vaccine for the past 45 years, measles remains a leading cause of death among
young children for the WHO African Region. With a strong global support from
governments, health workers and dedicated volunteers, significant progress is
being made in the fight against measles, however, measles still claimed
thousands lives each year in the African Region.
The
current measles elimination strategy calls for increased coverage of two doses
of measles vaccine (Routine, SIAs), enhanced surveillance and improved case
management.
In
2011, the Sixty-first session of the African Regional Committee adopted a
resolution for measles elimination by 2020. The resolution urged Member States
to provide adequate resources for the implementation of national plans to sustain
the gains in measles mortality reduction.
In
2012, a national plan for measles elimination in Cameroon was adopted by the
Inter Agency Coordination Committee. However, several challenges are still
identified, including inadequacy and sustainability of financing, weakness of
the health workforce and limited access to service delivery. In addition,
interventions are not implemented at full scale; procurement and supply chain
systems are still weak, community engagement low in addition to weak surveillance
of this disease.
Humanitarian
emergencies that occurred in the Far North (Boko Haram), Adamawa and East
(Central African refugees) regions have been associated with epidemics of
measles, which can be prevented through vaccination if anticipated by timely
intervention.
In
2014, 49 health districts faced Measles outbreaks in Cameroon. The most
affected population was among 1-15 years old. Only 14 (out of the 49) received
adequate response.
In order to
provide continuous technical, financial and material assistance for the
development of cMYP and integrated country annual operational plan, UNICEF
country office is requesting the support of two (2) national
consultants who will be helpful to ensure UNICEF great support for a good
preparation and implementation of measles SIAs.
The 2 national consultants will support country punctually to
improve the quality of their SIAs that will contribute to reduce the morbidity
and mortality of the disease.
2.
Purpose and
Objective
- The purpose is
to ensure that the country is engaged, mobilized, informed and well equipped
with necessary planning tools and implementation strategies that will result in
a successful and quality SIAs implementation;
- The objective is to give technical support to the Ministry of Health in collaboration
with UNICEF country office for the preparation and implementation of quality
measles SIAs.
3.
Methodology and Technical Approach
-
Desk review to analyse the country EPI situation;
-
Meetings and interactions with the Ministry of Health and others immunisation
partners;
4. Activities,
Tasks, Outputs and Deliverables
-
Support
the coordination of SIAs activities in collaboration with the national focal
point;
-
Prepare
and contribute to political and administrative authorities advocacy for a
better involvement;
-
Provide
technical support for micro planning, modules and SIAs management tools
elaboration, training of national, regional and district level actors;
-
If
needed, conduct a training needs assessment prior to SIA. Use findings to organize competency-based
training with pre- and post-tests that focuses on the areas that need
strengthening (e.g., injection technique of all antigens, contraindications,
vaccine management, AEFI and side effects, etc.);
-
Include
in training information on, and reporting standards for, priority notifiable
diseases. Include interactive
discussion on surveillance in training sessions at all levels;
-
During
SIA training, strengthen health worker capability in AEFI management. Provide equipment, supplies, reporting
forms for the SIA and at least the next 6 months;
-
Update
health worker knowledge and skills on common side effects. Include skill
practice on how to communicate effectively with caregivers. A job aid or
communication material on addressing side effects could be developed to support
this;
-
Develop
and disseminate standardized supervision checklists that include questions on
whether RI messages were given;
-
Produce
job aids to reinforce knowledge and skills that are important for both SIAs and
RI;
-
During
initial training/planning workshops for SIAs with national and regional staff,
provide an overview of the current status of routine immunization and
surveillance. Task participants
with identifying a short list of 3-5 RI strengthening objectives to address
through the SIA to improve performance and quality. Incorporate planning to address these issues into tools for
the SIA;
-
Review
immunization policy as part of SIA planning and update policies as needed (e.g.
providing routine vaccination to children >12 months or switching to use of
5-dose measles vials for RI.);
-
In SIA
microplanning, map the catchment areas for health centers using Google Maps and
use these data to revise RI microplans;
-
Utilize
house to house visits to inform parents on where and when to go for routine
immunization services;
-
Realize
pre-campaigns supervisions to ensure a high quality SIAs preparation and
implementation;
-
Support
Districts to identify low level immunity communities (routine and SIAs data)
and propose solutions to reach unreached children;
-
Use
supervision checklists to review processes and address routine immunization
issues e.g., stock-outs, drop out, injection waste management, etc.
-
Use
supervision during SIA to strengthen AEFI reporting, response, and proper use
of AEFI management kits;
-
Ensure
that after the SIA, health workers still have supplies needed for reporting and
managing AEFI;
-
Reinforce
health workers capability in interpersonal communication about normal effects
and AEFI and steps required to handle them;
-
In
health talks with community, address side effects. Clarify that fever following immunization is much less
severe than the symptoms and consequences of the disease;
-
Revise
training content and supervision checklists for RI to include problem areas
identified during SIA;
-
Conduct
rapid convenience assessments for assessing RI coverage and identify VPD cases;
-
During
RI, use two-level supervision with standard checklists. Supervisors can conduct rapid
convenience assessments (RCAs) for routine immunization coverage and ask
village leaders if any cases of notifiable diseases.
-
Follow
logistic & cold chain, vaccines and injection materiel distribution for
activities implementation;
-
Participate
to the SIAs supervision and link with communities;
-
Participate
to the SIAs evaluation activities;
-
In
places where local head counts for SIAs (disaggregated by age group) are more
accurate than official estimates, use them to revise target populations for
microplanning for RI and other services;
-
Use
SIA monitoring data to identify specific obstacles to immunization and prepare
plan to address them in RI;
-
Use
data on expenditures incurred during SIA to develop realistic budgets for
vaccine delivery and other operational costs for RI;
-
Review
data on numbers of children reached at vaccination posts during the SIA to
identify those with greatest numbers. Use this information to revise siting of
outreach locations for RI;
-
Per
the WHO Position Paper (2009) recommendation, screen and record doses of
measles vaccine given to children under two years of age in campaigns. Record
separately doses given to children two years and older;
-
Adapt
SIA microplanning templates for use in RI microplanning;
-
Conduct
coverage surveys that are used to assess both SIA and RI coverage levels.
-
Immediately
use the data from the SIA in the areas of low coverage to rapidly plan and
execute a mop-up that includes not only measles but all antigens;
-
In
sharing SIA results with local government officials and community leaders
following the campaign, also share information on the current status of routine
immunization and actions and budget needed to strengthen it;
-
Conduct
follow-up survey or supervision of health worker skills to determine areas
needing further reinforcement;
-
Support
and follow communication activities (availability of communication plan, early
implementation of activities);
-
Follow
financial resources transfer and distribution;
-
Support
daily data collection & analysis and correctives actions taking during the
SIAs;
-
Plan
and implement convenience survey to immediately
organize mop-up operation in low coverage;
-
Ensure AEFI and waste management
during the SIAs;
- Provide
technical support for routine vaccination reinforcement in low coverage areas;
- Formulate
recommendations to ensure the preparation and implementation for high quality
SIAs.
Deliverables
The consultant will have to submit to the supervisors (CO):
-
A weekly update on his
activities to discuss progress related to this ToRs;
-
A first month
activities report to allow the 1st monthly salary payment;
-
A draft of a final
report on all his activities at least 2 days before the end of the contract to
allow feedbacks and discussions;
-
A final report on all
his activities taking into account all feedbacks 2 weeks after the end of the
consultation with a summary report presented in PPT format & campaigns data
under Excel format;
-
All deliverables must
be presented to WCARO & CO on electronic support.
Output
- Timely and accurate technical support is provided by the
Country Office through the 2 consultants for a high quality SIAs preparation
and implementation.
5. Management,
Organization and Timeframe
The 2 consultants will be positioned under the
supervision of the Chief of Health sub-component located at the Cameroon
country office in Yaounde and will also work closely with the Immunization
Officer and country teams (C4D, CCL, Health, WASH and Nutrition).
UNICEF will:
-
Organize
an initial briefing for the consultant;
-
Make
available guidelines, documentation on Measles & Rubella SIAs organization;
-
Ensure
consultant direct supervision;
-
Final
appreciation of the consultant work quality.
Full Time: Estimated total working days: 2 calendar months -
On a base of 21 working days/months
The 2
consultants will be on contract through to the end of the 2 calendars months,
and will implement the activities and deliverables as outlined in this
document.
Duration of the assignment will be agreed upon prior to
the start of each assignment, and the total contract will not exceed 2 calendars
months - on a base
of 21 working days/month.
Deliverables
|
Deadline
|
A weekly update on
realized activities
|
Every Monday
|
A Monthly activities
report
|
Every Month
|
A draft final report on
all his activities on electronic support
|
At least 2 days before
the end of the mission
|
A final report
|
At the end of the
mission
|
A summary report
presented in PPT format & SIAs data under Excel format
|
At the end of the
mission
|
6. ROMP
Reference, Budget and Remuneration
WBS: 0690/A0/04/896/003/007 Appui
technique (missions)
Grant: XXX
§ Four 2 months (XXXX to XXX ) of work for 2 consultants: National Public Health/Epidemiology consultant, NOB professional
o
1st
month consultancy fees: 138.904$*2*21* working days: $US2,917*2 = 5,834$
o
2nd
month consultancy fees: 138.904$*2*21 working days: $US2,917*2 = 5,834$
o
Estimated/total
salary fees= $US 5,834*2 = 11,668$
estimated for 2 consultants
§ Salary will be pay on monthly
basis only after the submission and approval of the monthly activities report;
o
Perdiem for duty travels will be pay when
consultant is on duty travel in the country outside the duty station (20 days
per month for a total of 40 days for the duration of the contract).
§ Lumpsum for field missions
(transport & perdiem for consultant & driver) to be use according to
UNICEF rules: 7,500*2 = 15,000$
estimated for 2 consultants
Total
for the 2 consultants: 26,668$.
7.
Qualifications and Specialized
Knowledge/Experience required
National consultant in Public Health/Epidemiology, NOB
professional
§ Education
o A Medical degree with a master's degree in Public Health,
Epidemiology or Biostatistics; or other
relevant disciplines.
*A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree
*A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree
§ Work experience
o At least 5 years’ experience dealing with immunization
programme (Expanded Programme on Immunization mainly planning, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation);
§ Competencies
o Competencies in epidemiology;
o Capacity to work in multicultural environment;
o Knowledge of the social, political and economic environment
of the country. A working experience in Cameroon related to immunization issues
is an asset.
o Knowledge of informatics techniques including web browsing;
o Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with
multiple partners;
o Excellent analytical, organizational and communication
skills;
o Good analytical and negotiating skills.
§ Language
o Excellent knowledge of French and a good working knowledge of
English;
8.
Conditions of Work
Full Time: Estimated Total Working Days: 2 months- On a base of 21 working
days/months;
Duty Station:
Yaounde with some travels in the country. Each
consultant will be covering one of the priority Region.
Work place of consultant: UNICEF Cameroon country
Office and Expanded Programme on Immunization Central Technical
Group/Departments of Family Health & Health promotion teams.
9. Anticipated
travel
§ Travel to duty station
§ Travel inside the country for
technical support, prospective visits and SIAs supervision
10. UNICEF
recourse in case of unsatisfactory performance
§ Payment will only be made for
work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF.
§ UNICEF reserves the right to interrupt
the contract in case of unsatisfactory achievements.
No comments:
Post a Comment