VDI COVID coordination STC (for the period of one year)

Purpose of the Post:

This consultancy, Based in Pakse, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), this consultancy will support the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Lao PDR on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccine and routine vaccines deployment in four provinces Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong, and Saravan.

Description of Duties:

Under the supervision of the Vaccine-Preventable Disease & Immunization (VDI) Team Lead and themanagement of the WHO Representative, the Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Programme Management: Assist four provincial health offices (PHO) in all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination-related programme implementation, including providing cold chain and logistics data, budgetary and financial data, and other necessary data to monitor COVID-19 Vaccination programme implementation. Share information and relevant updates with the MOH/National Immunization Program (NIP) on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination implementation.

•  Deliverable 1.1: Work with PHO colleagues in four provinces to build local capacity (regional, provincial and district) to store and manage COVID-19 vaccines without exposing routine vaccines to supply disruptions
•  Deliverable 1.2: Review and aggregate Micro-plans to support the rapid deployment of doses and availability of sufficient funding for related deployment and operational costs down to the health centre level and any outreach campaigns or house to house vaccination
• Deliverable 1.3: Conduct supportive supervision on COVID-19 vaccination implementation and immunization rollout, etc
• Deliverable 1.4: Support PHOs to accurately aggregate and report COVID-19 vaccine doses administered and adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) cases to NIP
• Deliverable 1.5: Support PHO in ensuring timely consumption of all COVID-19 doses before expiration.
• Deliverable 1.6: Provide bi-weekly COVID-19 vaccination progress summary to MCH/NIP and WHO collaborators
• Deliverable 1.7: Ensure Information, Education and Communication materials are prepared to support risk communication and community engagement
• Deliverable 1.8: – Work with the technical unit to address AEFI messages, if needed

Output 2: Support PHOs to supervise the routine immunization outreach, including PIRI, OPV/MR SIA etc. and integrate COVID-19 vaccination.

• Deliverable 2.1: Work closely and support PHOs in the implementation of the technical instruction on PIRI, OPV, or MR SIA
• Deliverable 2.2: Support district health offices and PHOs on micro-planning for routine immunization outreach activities.
• Deliverable 2.3: Conduct supportive supervision visits to the immunization outreach activities for routine immunization
• Deliverable 2.4: Encourage integration of COVID-19 vaccination into the routine immunization outreach where feasible.

Output 3: Support PHOs in implementing Zero dose strategy through community engagement and microplanning.

• Deliverable 3.1: Work closely and support PHOs in reaching the unreached or zero dose children.
• Deliverable 3.2: ensure that DHOs have tailored community engagement activities and identified hesitant or hard to reach villages.

Knowledge & Skills:

Knowledge and skills immunization; Offers technical input and professional advice in the consolidation and implementation of country programmes.

Education:

Advanced university degree in medicine or public health.

Experience:

Minimum of seven years of experience in immunization program implementation, including experience in an outbreak or emergency setting. The Consultant should have experience working within the UN system or with UN partners.

Languages: 

Written and spoken fluency in Lao and English is essential. Written and spoken fluency in another UN or Lao language is desirable

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit applications and curriculum vitae in the English language with a subject "VDI COVID coordination STC" to the following Email address: wplaohr@who.int by 16 May 2022 at 17:00 PM.