Job Description

Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to test the efficacy and safety of Chloroquine in the treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria at selected sentinel hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per WHO protocol and as approved by CBC Pakistan

Background

Antimalarial Drug Efficacy and Safety Testing is an integral part of malaria programme surveillance. In Pakistan every alternate year the test is conducted at selected sentinel sites as per WHO protocol which is approved by Global Malaria Programme in HQ and cleared by Central Bioethics Committee of Pakistan.

The survey is planned to be conducted by the team of expert doctors, microscopists, female nurse and a number of field staff from Malaria Control Programme of the district where is located or if not available locally, will be relocated from other district for the study duration with the office notification of Provincial Malaria Control Programme.

Rural Health Centre Ali Masjid in Khyber district has been selected as sentinel site hospital where the survey will be conducted.

Acting as Co- Investigator and Survey Coordinator the consultant will deal with all administrative and technical issues encountered related to this survey extended over 3 months. He /She will also supervise the overall functions of survey teams at the mentioned Sentinel Site and will ensure the quality of the survey in accordance with the approved protocol. Principle Investigator /Site Coordinator will also be responsible for the logistic arrangements of required lab equipment, reagents supplies and commodities.

He will provide the required guidance and training to the facility microscopist, doctor, female assistant and follow up supervisors. As per methodology explained in the protocol therein.

Work to be performed

by the end of his consultancy, he/she should have delivered the following outputs. 

Output 1:

Successful accomplishment of sentinel site survey for testing the efficacy and safety of First line antimalarial medicine used in the treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria, following all its protocols. analyse the patient data and submit the final report on the survey findings.

Deliverable 1.1:

To constitute sentinel sites team at Rural Health Centre Ali Masjid based on the criteria mentioned in the approved protocol.

Deliverable 1.2:

Being expert in the methodology of therapeutic efficacy monitoring will guide and coach 8 sentinel sites team members in WHO Protocol for antimalarial drug efficacy monitoring

Deliverable 1.3:

List of Laboratory equipment, reagents and commodities prepared and procured and provided to the site team.

Deliverable 1.4:

Minimum 60 patients with uncomplicated vivax malaria 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:

To double Cross check all the samples (slides) with parasite count, complete the double entry of data on the provided data base and based on the analysis will develop the report

Deliverable 1.6:

Report finalised, submitted for review and disseminated in a national consultation.

Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work in the supervision of:

Responsible Officer: NPO MCE?NTDs, WCO Pakistan

Manager: Public Health Specialist (Disease Control)

Specific requirements  

Qualifications required:

Degrees / Certificates:

Bechler of Science degree in Medical laboratory science or university degree in other relevant field complemented with Diploma in Lab technology with diploma in QA assurance in malaria microscopy in WHO regional course of Quality Assurance

Experience required:

2 years’ experience of working as senior microscopist in regional reference lab,

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

In‐depth knowledge of Malaria microscopy techniques and having previous experience of  such surveys using WHO protocol.

Language requirements:

Expert in reading, writing and speaking English and Urdu

Place of assignment

The consultant will stay in the Sentinel Site district and will complete the survey  and will not travel outside the district

Medical clearance

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

Medical Fitness Certificate provided confirming the fitness.

Travel

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.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.