Consultant (MPDSR)
Job Overview
1. Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the process of institutionalization of MPDSR and implement relevant work plans in close collaboration with Department of Health, Government of Punjab & Sindh and focus facilities to ensure regular meetings, documentation, data management, reporting and trainings as required.
2. Background
The Government of Pakistan stands committed to globally recommended actions for eliminating preventable maternal and new-born mortality. This will require establishment of strong monitoring systems that are capable of tracking all maternal and neonatal deaths in real time, allowing for better understanding of the underlying factors contributing to the deaths, and guiding actions to avert similar deaths from occurring. Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) is a strategy that provides required information for guiding public health actions focused on reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. It is a form of continuous surveillance that links the health information system and quality improvement processes from local to national levels. MPDSR includes the routine identification, notification, quantification and determination of causes and to prevent all maternal and neonatal deaths, as well as the use of this information to respond with actions that will prevent future deaths.
The WHO country office has provided technical assistance for developing national protocols on MPDSR for Pakistan, in consultation with national and provincial health authorities, partners, and other concerned stakeholders. This protocol is well aligned to WHO global standards (WHO publications “MDSR Technical Guidance”, 2012, and “Making Every Baby Count”, 2016). The protocols were translated into a comprehensive training package for building capacity of facility-based health providers and district/provincial health officials in death audits and use of data for response. Moreover, the provincial training of trainers on MPDSR were conducted during Oct-Nov 2021. For institutionalization of MPDSR in Punjab and Sindh, all required committees in selected facilities will be notified by the competent authorities. In addition, capacity building of the provincial health department and facility staff from the relevant districts will be done. A consultant is required in Punjab and Sindh for providing continued support to the Provincial MPDSR Task Force, MDR committees at various levels (provincial, district and facility) and the respective provincial departments of health, in ensuring regular meetings, documentation, data management and reporting on MPDSR implementation progress. Therefore, WHO country office is supporting a provincial consultant in Punjab and Sindh province to provide the required support.
3. Planned timelines
A total of 200 working days spread over the following timeframe:
Start date: 01/03/2022
End date: 31/12/2022
4. Work to be performed
The consultant would work very closely with the Provincial Departments of Health including all the relevant programs (IRMNCH/MNCH Program, LHW Program, DHIS Program as well as with the WHO Islamabad and provincial sub-offices in Punjab & Sindh (Technical Officer RMNCAH) to provide technical assistance in organizing trainings and facilitate implementation of MPDSR in selected facilities across the respective province.
Over the given timeframe, the consultant is required to:
- Undertake coordination, convening, documentation and provision of technical support to the MPDSR system implementation.
- Notification and orientation of the Provincial Task Force
- Review training material developed for training of trainers on MPDSR system and organize trainings and refreshers for all selected facilities/districts of the province.
- Prepare the reporting on MPDSR system implementation; challenges, achievements, next steps.
- Draft a plan for the implementation in selected facilities, a plan for scale up to other facilities and districts in coordination with Provincial Health Departments and the respective districts.
- Coordinate monitoring of MPDSR system implementation at the selected healthcare facilities.
- Support and facilitate the provincial Provincial Health Departments in coordinating facility, district and provincial review meetings through respective committees as per stipulated schedules and ToRs of the notified committees to measure the implementation rate of the system.
- Conduct analysis and generate technical reports of the reviews in coordination with the Provincial Health Departments focal person and secretaries of the committees
- Support the relevant committee members in use of MPDSR software tool and facilitate the data recording at the implementing units at the selected hospitals.
- Present reports and lessons learned to the Provincial Task Force, facility and district review meetings.
- Prepare budget to cover the logistics for the provincial quarterly review meeting
- Prepare budget to cover the logistics for the biannual Provincial task force meeting
- Prepare timely reports for all activities under MPDSR system implementation and submit regular progress reports for review by Ministry & WHO teams
5. Specific requirements
Qualifications required:
- First University degree in Medicine. Post graduate degree in public health is an asset.
Experience required:
- Up to 5 years of work experience with national or international organizations on public health
- Experience of working on MPDSR in the past will be preferred
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
- Report writing skills
- Training skills
- Excellent networking and coordination skills
- Data management skills
Language requirements:
Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English is required.
6. Place of assignment: Lahore (Punjab) / Karachi (Sindh)
Minimum Education:
Bachelors
Minimum Experience:
5 Years(Up to 5 years of work experience with national or international organizations on public health. Experience of working on MPDSR in the past will be preferred)
