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National Consultancy to support child nutrition & health programmes in Dhamanaveshi Urban Health Facility
Background:
The greater Male' area has been under lockdown since 15th April 2020 due to local transmission of COVID-19, resulting in a complete stop of routine new-born and child health services. UNICEF and other partners have since advocated with the Ministry of Health to resume services, to allow lifesaving services for children and to be provided in order to prevent further public health challenges in addition to the COVID-19 spread. An estimated 8000 under-five children in need of basic public health care services at any given time, and close to 4000 are in Male'.
Due to the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic with families losing their income and many families being at risk of falling further into poverty, the nutritional status of children and women is expected to deteriorate over the medium-term, potentially regressing on the significant progress the Maldives has experienced in recent decades due to reduced frequency, quantity and diversity of meals, disrupted food systems (access to food) and a spike in food prices.
Dhamanaveshi health facility is the only urban public health facility in the capital Male', which caters to nearly half of the under five children in the country. The facility currently provides routine EPI programmes, growth monitoring promotion (GMP), Vitamin A and deworming, and ante- and post-natal care services to pregnant and lactating women. The facility experiences an influx of parents coming in for vaccination and GMP, the contact is not fully utilised to deliver key messages orcounselling to parents. There are capacity gaps and need to strategies the programming approaches to increase engagement with parents with provide quality interpersonal counselling in EPI and GMP.
With the high growth monitoring and immunization coverage in the Maldives, it is critical that these service platforms are fully utilised to deliver quality health services and deliver clear messages on vaccination, breastfeeding, and responsive feeding. Further, these services now need to be adapted to the new alternative service modality in line with COVID constrains.
In this regard, UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to support the continues delivery of Damanavsehi, Ministry of health, and Health Protection Agency (HPA) to coordinate and support the support the continued delivery of child public services in the context of COVID-19.
Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of the assignment is to ensure that young children and their care-takers continue to have access to quality essential health services, and to information on services and practices that improve their health, development and nutritional status
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:
- To ensure continued routine immunization services to pregnant women and children by supporting the timely and efficient provision of appointments to service-seeking parents;
- To ensure timely and quality growth monitoring and promotion programmes to under five children continues as per needs, provide guidance, counselling and support on infant and young child feeding and related and child nutrition;
- To provide guidance on early detection and interventions for malnourished children and children at risk;
- To monitor and track nutrition indicators for individual children and track progress through e-job aids, and contribute to updating nutrition tools and systems;
- To strengthen routine immunization monitoring and reporting , follow-up on vaccination delays and address it in line with the vaccine communication plan;
- To support the implementation of vaccine supplementary activities at Damanavsehi, particularly the Measles supplementary campaign communication and related activities
- To support the implementation of the national social behaviour change communication strategy and action plan for the first 1,000 days activities in Dhamanveshi;
- Support dedicated child health messaging and public engagement to encourage parents to complete the full immunization and child health package for their children in a timely manner.
Duty station: The consultant will be based in the Dhamanaveshi, the urban health facility in Male'.
Supervisor: Under the direct supervision of the head of child programmes in Dhamanevshi, with remote supervision from UNICEF Programme Specialist for Health & Nutrition.
Major tasks of the Assignment:
The consultant will work very closely with the Youth and Sports and Community Empowerment, the Health Protection Agency, and UNICEF to contribute to the below deliverables:
- With the Dhamanveshi team and led by supervisors and HPA technical programmes, ensure continuation of essential services by applying the alternate mode of services for GMP and immunization programmes in COVID pandemic,
- Review the current set-up and adapt it to the COVID context. With the team, adapt service protocols to provide information counselling through alternative means
- Support the Vaccine programme to deliver effective immunization services, including providing informative counselling on vaccines. Proactively follow-up on missed vaccines cases and through interpersonal communication and engagement with parents, encourage uptake of vaccines as per EPI schedule
- Maintain records of coverage, and vaccine stocks in the facility. Maintain electronic records of children and their families systematically and update regularly.
- Routine follow-up (via calls etc) on due visits and vaccine shots and proactively contact clients / parents. Do follow-up and document cases who are dropping out and actively engage to attend as per schedule.
- Ensure that quality growth monitoring and promotion programmes to under five children and informative counselling for the caretakers is provided in line with national guidelines.
- Ensure Infant Young Child Counselling to caretakers at point of contacts, or remotely is provided, and that guidance, counselling and support on infant and young child feeding and related and child nutrition is provided as needed.
- Promote awareness and skills on early childhood development among parents who attend the facility, including stimulation, care and nurturing behaviour.
- Maintaining the records of clients, capture baselines, and monitoring of indicators. Monitor and track health and nutrition indicators for individual child and track progress. Once an electronic tool or software is in place, to undertake inputting and maintaining of data
- To ensure early detection and intervention of malnourished children, and children at risk. Facilitate referral and follow-up
- To strengthen routine immunization monitoring and reporting records, and follow-up on vaccination delays and address it in line with the individual vaccine plan
- Work closely with HPA and implement the social behaviour change communication strategy for the first 1000 days activities in Dhamanveshi.
- Manage, coordinate and liaise information requirements form the two programmes with HPA and UNICEF for maximum effectiveness and efficiency of routine new-born and child services.
Estimated duration of contract: The assignment will be signed for an initial period of 12 months between June 2020 - May 2021.
Official travel involved (itinerary and duration): Travel outside Male' is not foreseen, though there is a possibility based on the need.
Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required:
- An undergraduate degree in public health, nursing or related area. An advanced diploma with relevant experience can be considered in lieu of a degree
- Specific training in EPI, IYCF of areas within child nutrition is an asset
- At least three years of experience in child related public health programmes
- Past experience conducting awareness sessions. Good facilitation skills required
- Able to handle data and information on computer software, and basic monitoring skills required
- Fluency in written and spoken Dhivehi and good writing skills in English.
- Excellent interpersonal and demonstrated good level of communication skills. Proven ability to work in teams
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The functional competencies required for this post are...
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Deadline for applications: 23rd May 2020, 16:00 hrs (Maldives time)
Application link:
https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=app...
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=531755