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PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
To provide technical expertise for the development of the PHC needs evaluation framework, to conduct comprehensive data analysis for PHC facilities in Kharkivska oblast and to offer technical guidance for assessing the impact of the OTC kits intervention in Khersonska oblast as part of the humanitarian response.
BACKGROUND
The health care system in Ukraine, particularly in war-affected regions in the east and south of the country, faces severe disruptions due to active hostilities caused by full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine since February 2022. Key issues include staffing shortages, damage to health care facilities, and damaged infrastructure and missing of medicines and medical equipment. War-affected oblasts such as Chernihivska, Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Kyivska, Luhanska, Mykolaivska, Odeska, Sumska and Zaporizka continue to face significant or full disruption of primary health care (PHC) services and infrastructural damage. The frontline need assessment underlined that there is a general access to PHC facilities, and they are functional, however 10% of respondents reported a lack of access to a family doctor in June 2023. 13% of respondents mentioned that the primary barriers to accessing health care were cost, availability, and security concerns. The availability of PHC services and quality of service provision are affected by many factors such as: healthcare staffing shortages, disrupted access to medicines, low quality or missing medical equipment, effective management of medical equipment, security issues and inability to travel etc.
After Kharkivska oblast liberation (Sept 2022) data on PHC infrastructure revealed that PHC facilities were functional however, deep analysis about the level of endowment of PHC facilities with the medical equipment was uncomplete. It was necessary to understand what various kinds of medical equipment is available, its status and what medical equipment have to be supply to PHC facilities to maintaining high standards of healthcare service and operational efficiency. Moreover, there were not updated list of the PHC facilities: Center for the Primary Health Care (CPMSD) with its ambulatories and feldshers points. Building on joint effort of Department of Health in Kharkiv and WHO CO in Ukraine (WHE/EMT) the deep need self-assessment of available medical equipment and consumables, human resources, and training need assessment at the PHC level was conducted in March 2024. As the results it was created and validated a database which allowed to map available medical equipment, human resources, and training needs at each PHC facilities in Kharkiv oblast. To generate evidence, better understanding of the situation and development of comprehensive procurement plan there is a need to conduct comprehensive data analysis, finalize the data collection framework and produce a report for further references.
Access to medicines is one of the main challenges facing populations, particularly in high and very high-risk areas close to active hostilities. In these areas a significantly higher proportion of people don’t have access to the medicines they need. WHO has supported over-the-counter (OTC) kit distribution to provide readily available healthcare supplies and medications to 2448 vulnerable population living in 14 locations of Khersonska oblast closer to active hostilities areas. This intervention targeted the most vulnerable population and there is a need to conduct deep impact analysis of the OTC intervention. In this regard there is a need to develop the draft assessment tool to collect data after 6 months from OTC kits delivery, and further peer review of draft report related to improvement of access to essential healthcare resources, particularly in areas where access to healthcare facilities may be limited or disrupted due to the conflict.
DELIVERABLES
Objective: to provide technical expertise for the development of the PHC needs evaluation framework, to conduct comprehensive data analysis for PHC facilities in Kharkivska oblast and to offer technical guidance for assessing the impact of the OTC kits intervention in Khersonska oblast as part of the humanitarian response.
1. PHC Facilities Needs Assessment:
1.1 Develop the PHC needs assessment framework and conduct comprehensive data analysis for the PHC facilities in Kharkivska oblast
- Finalize the assessment framework for the PHC medical equipment, HR, and training needs.
- Create a data analysis template and use it to analyze data compiled from PHC facilities in Kharkivska oblast.
- Develop reproducible script (e.g. SPSS, R, SAS…) for the analysis.
- Prepare a report on PHC medical equipment, HR, and training needs assessment with recommendations on the findings and way-forward.
1.2 Develop a framework to expand the PHC needs assessment to other affected oblasts.
2. OTC Medicines Activity:
2.1 Write the study protocol for evaluating OTC medicines distributions intervention
- Review available literature to provide background information for the report.
- Evaluate existing data from the OTC kits distribution database, review findings after first month of kits distribution.
- Finalize the OTC medicines distributions (electronic) tool and summary table.
- Develop the assessment framework with indicators for OTC interventions.
- Create the study procedure and assessment tools.
- Prepare documents for ethical approval of the study protocol.
- Provide technical inputs on the terms of reference and RFP for the third-party involvement.
2.2 Support organizational and field activities for the OTC kit study monthly
- Provide finalized documents for the preparatory stage, including preparing a list of households, reviewing the list of data collectors, and setting the data collection timeline.
- Offer technical support during the data collection process, including ongoing data cleaning, analysis, and providing weekly and consolidated monthly feedback on data quality.
- Validate data received from the vendor monthly, including reviewing data, technical reports, and additional materials.
- Provide monthly data sets for review by the Health operations manager.
- Oversee the development of the supplier’s final report.
2.3Develop the report on OTC medicines distributions interventions
- Oversee the analysis of the collected data and develop the report and populated with information.
- Update the OTC kit content based on the findings.
- Oversee the development of the databook and script for the data analysis.
- Organize peer-review of the draft report and ensure the preparation for the publication of the OTC medicines distribution interventions report.
Educational Qualifications
Essential: First level university degree in medicine, public health, or related field.
Desirable: Specialization in health data management and/or analysis.
Experience
Essential:
At least 2 years’ experience in health data management and/or analysis in health service availability, medicines and service delivery in low-resource, humanitarian, and/or developing settings.
Experience in strengthening data collection to inform programming in health service delivery and identifying gaps in health care.
Experience in analyzing national rates of different health interventions and comparison to national and global rates and standards.
Desirable:
Experience with WHO/UN/humanitarian survey protocols, assessment tools.
Experience of writing for publication (e.g., scientific journals, normative guidelines) related to health service delivery and access to healthcare.
Experience in working with essential health service packages.
Skills/Knowledge
Essential:
Familiarity with the Ukrainian health system, health system reform, and service and medicine packages
Knowledge of global health and humanitarian minimum standards (Sphere, MISP, Mh-GAP, PEN, H3 Package of High Priority Health Services, etc.) and ability to assess application of those standards.
Knowledge of writing code and using statistical software packages for analysis (Python, R, Stata, or similar)
Expert knowledge in survey design and management (incl. sampling)
Interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and ability to disseminate information clearly and effectively through various media.
Strong analytical and report writing skills.
Desirable:
Understanding of monitoring and assessing the implementation health service packages, and how they can be contextualized in emergencies.
Knowledge of open-source data sets pertinent to the context.
Advanced knowledge in data visualization.
Languages
Expert level of English and Ukrainian, or Russian
LOCATION
Off site: remote.
TRAVEL
No travels expected.
REMUNERATION
Remuneration: The level of remuneration is set at daily rate of USD 140 as per national fees at the NO-B level.
Expected duration of contract: 6 months
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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REQUIRED EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree
WORK HOURS: 8 Hours a Day
EXPERIENCE IN MONTHS: 24
