Supporting laboratory testing services for the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Lao PDR

The World Health Organization has a vacancy for the position of:

Supporting laboratory testing services for

the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Lao PDR

(Agreement for Performance of Work)

BACKGROUND

Lao PDR has an estimated 12,000 people living with HIV in 2018. The epidemic is concentrated with increasing prevalence among key populations. Unsafe sexual activity is the main mode of transmission. Estimated HIV incidence indicates the number of new HIV infections declining since 2004 reaching a total of 570 in 2018. However, the number of HIV infections reported to VCT centres have been considerably larger and increasing, with 679 reported in 2013 and 1489 in 2017. The HIV response in Lao PDR focuses on key populations in particular people living with HIV, MSM, female sex workers, and transgender people. With VCT data suggesting a rising number of new HIV infections, and IBBS data indicating rising HIV prevalence among MSM in Vientiane capital, there is an urgent need for renewal in primary HIV prevention activities especially among MSM.

The provision of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for “key populations at substantial risk of HIV infection is recommended by the recent WHO guideline with backup of the substantial evidences. Recent AFAO report also recommended to implement PrEP in Lao as key prevention strategy (AFAO, Dec 2019). The national strategy and action plan for 2021-2030 draft has PrEP component as priority activities for HIV prevention concerning WHO’s recommendation on PrEP. Considering available evidences and documents, Lao has decided to implement PrEP pilot implementation with 250 MSM HIV negative participants in Vientiane Capital in the end of 2020. WHO Lao is supporting laboratory testing services for the participants in the PrEP pilot implementation according to the agreement of PrEP partner coordination meeting on May 2020.

PURPOSE OF THE POST

WHO is looking for the agency who can provide a laboratory testing services for PrEP project in the aspects of implementation of following priority activities:

(1) Coordinate, monitor, and supervise the participating three ART sites and hospital laboratories in Vientiane Capital regarding laboratory testing services of PrEP pilot project for the smooth implementation and timely support for the successful project completion.

(2) Provide the selected laboratory testing services for the participants of PrEP pilot project in close collaboration with participating three ART sites and hospital laboratory in in Vientiane Capital to assess eligibility of participation to the project and baseline of the health condition.

TIMELINE

Start date: 15th October 2020

End date: 30th December 2020

(subject to confirmation)

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The above actions should be led or/and facilitated by the APW through daily working, communicating, and other meetings with relevant organizations, technical staff and other partners. Periodical field support work is required to understand the situation in ground level.

Output 1: Coordinate, monitor, and supervise the participating three ART sites, hospital laboratories, and relevant partners in Vientiane Capital regarding laboratory testing services of PrEP pilot project for the smooth implementation and timely support for the successful project completion.

Deliverable 1.1: Conduct regular communication with participating three ART sites and hospital laboratories for the effective implementation of the project.
Deliverable 1.2: Conduct coordination meeting(s) with relevant partners and stakeholders on the PrEP project.
Deliverable 1.3: Provide necessary monitoring and supervisory visit to the participating three ART sites and hospital laboratory and provide appropriate suggestions and solutions for the facing challenges.
Deliverable 1.4: Provide completion report of the laboratory testing services at the end of the contract.

Output 2: Provide the selected laboratory testing services for the participants of PrEP pilot project in close collaboration with participating three ART sites and hospital laboratory in in Vientiane Capital

Deliverable 2.1: Determine and arrange necessary laboratory testing services according to the national PrEP guideline in close collaboration with participating three ART sites and hospital laboratories.
Deliverable 2.2: Complete laboratory testing services for the project participants as an assessment of eligibility of participation and baseline of the health condition.

QUALIFICATION REQUIRED

Educational Degrees / Certificates

Essential: Staff of the selected entity shall have degrees in medicine or public health.

Experience required for the entity:

Essential: Staff of the selected entity shall have minimum 10 years’ experience in HIV/AIDS control activities in Lao PDR.
Desirable: Staff of the selected entity shall have working experience with the WHO.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Staff of the selected entity shall have

Technical expertise in the management of a public health programme with experience of designing and implementing HIV related activities.
Extensive knowledge of HIV case management and the interpretation of HIV epidemiology in a public health context.
Skills in writing proposal, planning, training, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, and in the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
Ability to interact with health professionals at various levels and to do work with national counterparts, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies

Language requirements:

Staff of the selected entity shall be fluent in writing and speaking Lao and English.

Place of assignment

Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

Applicant shall submit a proposal including names, functions and education of staff who will implement, and implementation plan to complete all above-mentioned deliverables within the contract period, and budget estimation including professional cost on this consultancy in English (Free form and max 3 pages) with a subject "APW laboratory testing services for HIV PrEP” to the following Email address : wplaohr@who.int by 13th October 2020. Applications without a proper subject might be disregarded.