Job Description

Purpose of the Consultancy

The Overall Purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical input to test the efficacy and safety of Oral Chloroquine and Artemether plus Lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria at 3 selected sentinel site hospitals in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh Provinces as per WHO protocol and as approved by Central Bioethics Committee (NBC) Pakistan.

Background

Antimalarial Drug Efficacy and Safety Testing is a regular feature of exiting sentinel site surveillance and programme monitoring in Malaria Control Programme Pakistan. In Pakistan every alternate year the test is conducted at selected sentinel sites as per WHO latest protocol which is cleared by Central Bioethics Committee of Pakistan and Ethical Review Committee (ERC) of WHO EMRO. The survey is planned to be conducted by the team of expert doctors, a facility microscopist, a female nurse or paramedic and 3-4  patient follow up supervisors from local Malaria Control Programmes at each site.

These results will help guide the programme in making any inevitable policy change in falciparum malaria case management guidelines and selection of new antigen detection tests.

District Headquarter Hospital Zhob in Balochistan, Rural Health Centres Ali Masjid in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gharo in District Thatta of Sindh provinces have been selected as sentinel site hospitals.

Acting as Principal and Survey Coordinator the consultant will deal with all management and administrative issues encountered related to this survey extended over 4 months. He /She will also supervise the overall functions of the survey teams at the mentioned sentinel facilities and will ensure the quality of the survey in accordance with the approved protocol.

Principle Investigator will be responsible for the logistic arrangements of required lab equipment, reagents supplies and commodities. He will provide the technical guidance to the sentinel site team as per methodology explained in the protocol therein. As a Sentinel Site in-charge he will be    responsible for the quality assurance of samples collected and will cross check every slide and recount the parasitaemia after the completion of the survey. He will monitor the compliance of the sites teams in following the standards for recruitment of patients with their consent taken on prescribed templates.

PI will provide technical support to the WHO NPO MVC/NTDs and the Cluster lead of Disease Prevention and Control in organization of onsite refresher training sessions for all sentinel sites. He / She will be formal correspondence with provincial health departments and the Global Fund PRs. He will organise periodical monitoring visits to all sites and will rectify the processes at sentinel facilities in coordination with site in-charges and hospital management.

Work to be performed.

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs.

Output 1:

Conduct and finalize sentinel site survey at all the 3 sites, testing the efficacy of first line drug used in the treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria, complete the data entry and submit the final report on the survey findings.

Deliverable 1.1: Constitution of Sentinel Site teams as per criteria in the protocol plus Supervision and coordination of all site teams including clinicians, lab technicians, and data managers to ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are followed throughout the study.

Deliverable 1.2: Draft an outline action plan of refresher trainings and conduct technical briefing to the sites team at the sentinel facility.

Deliverable 1.3: Undertake an initial assessment of the available HR, reagents, equipment and required commodities and develop a list of items for the WHO procurement unit in WCO for speedy procurement.

Deliverable 1.4: Undertake key monitoring activities to ensure that 65 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria at minimum have been enrolled and followed up to 28 days (7, weekly health facility or home visits and sampling) as per set criteria in the protocol

Deliverable 1.5: Conduct review and cross check of all the samples (slides) with parasite count, review and analyse the double entry of data on the provided data base, and develop the report based on the conducted analysis.

Output 2.

Develop and submit the final report of the survey founded on the results of the survey data analysis after cross check. Ensure the completion of the survey within 3 months and will submit the report within one month of the completion of the report.

Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical input and advice for the completion and finalization of the data entry using provided WHO TES Database    from the survey record.  Monitor and ensure all record maintenance for later sharing with WHO EMRO including the patient records.

Deliverable 2.2: Ensure quality and accuracy of data collection, entry, and reporting. Facilitate internal quality assurance (QA) and participate in external monitoring and evaluation missions.

Deliverable 2.3: Develop report for the technical review of MVC team in EMRO and WCO Pakistan.

Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Responsible Officer: NPO MCV,NTDs, WCO Pakistan

Manager: Public Health Specialist (Disease Control)

Specific requirements

Qualifications required:

Essential: University degree in Medicine, Epidemiology, Public Health, or a related field.

Desirable: PhD degree in Medicine, Epidemiology, Public Health, or a related field will be preferred).

Experience required:

Essential: Minimum 5 years’ experience in disease control, provision of consultancy services in malaria case management, epidemiological research.

Demonstrated experience as a PI or co-investigator on clinical or public health studies related to malaria.

Desirable: background in malaria related research will be of added value (anti-malarial TES studies will be preferred).

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

In-depth knowledge of malaria epidemiology and control strategies in Pakistan.

Proficiency in research ethics, protocol writing, and data analysis.

Language requirements:

Expert in reading, writing, and speaking English and Urdu

Place of assignment

The consultant will be placed in WCO PAK and However he will travel to his assignment districts from Islamabad. He will stay at least for a week at each sentinel site and will assist the site physician in recruitment and will monitor the performance of each team member.

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

From: Islamabad

To: Zhob

Date: 14/07/2025 - 18/07/2025

Purpose: With support of Sub Office Quetta will organise 3 days refresher training for Zhob Site team , facilitated by WHO TO MVC/NTDs

From: Islamabad

To: Peshawar

Date: 29/07/2025 - 01/08/2025

Purpose: With support of Sub Office Quetta will organise 3 days refresher training for Ali Masjid Site team , facilitated by WHO TO MVC/NTDs and provincial sub-office KP

From: Islamabad

To: Karachi

Date: 20/08/2025 - 22/08/2025

Purpose: With support of Sub Office Karachi will organise 3 days refresher training for Gharo (Thatta)  Site team , facilitated by WHO TO MVC/NTDs

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.