UN Children's Fund Consultancy Jobs in Ugandan

UN Children's Fund Consultancy Jobs in Ugandan

Closing date: 30 Jul 2019

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the MNH Specialist, UNICEF Uganda Office, in collaboration with MoH, and the UNICEF Health Specialists in Gulu and Karamoja Regions.

The consultant will support strengthening the care of sick new-born at national level, regional referral hospital (RRHs), and District Hospitals (DHs).

Background

Neonatal Mortality Rate of 27 per 1000 live births (UDH 2016) in Uganda is unacceptably high and accounts for almost 45 per cent of the infant mortality – a trend not changed over the last ten years.

The major causes of neonatal deaths in Uganda are preventable, which include: Asphyxia 26 per cent, preterm 25 per cent and infections 31 per cent. Despite increase in the institutional deliveries from 57 to 73 per cent in 2016, the newborn mortality remains high.

The quality of newborn care in Uganda remains poor at all levels of the health care system from Health Center III to tertiary hospitals.

Ministry of Health has developed standards of hospital care of newborns to address the significant drivers of mortality; infection, birth asphyxia, and complications of low birth weight, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, birth defects, and birth injuries.

However, the majority of the tertiary health facilities/institutions function below the standards for tertiary care for newborns as articulated in the above standards.

The designated newborn care units in HC IV and hospitals can only provide basic neonatal care with minimal capacity to provide care for sick newborns including care for the high-risk newborns such as pre-term and term babies with complications. preterm and term babies with complications.

Reference to the 5th edition of perinatal care for the USA reports that the introduction of NICU/ high dependency units in secondary/tertiary care settings significantly improved the situation of the newborns at high- risk.

A recent DELPHI exercise estimated that optimal supportive care in a hospital Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) could avert 70 percent of neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications and Neonatal Intensive Care Units could avert 90 per cent of the neonatal deaths.

With all these justifications including the urgent need for Uganda to strengthen the coverage and quality of the care for sick newborn at HCIV and hospitals, UNICEF plans to recruit an expert neonatologist on consultancy terms to support Ministry of Health, targeted National/Regional Referral Hospitals and districts in standardizing the systems for care of sick newborn as described below in the essential tasks/deliverables.

Key Tasks:

Support MoH to standardize the key technical and operational documents in regard to care of sick and small newborns:

Develop and finalize the operational guideline for care of sick and small newborn in Uganda

Develop and finalize the in-service training package for care of sick and small newborn

Develop job aids and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the health staff working in Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

Develop SOP/ guidance note on Perinatal Death Surveillance and Review (PDSR) as an addendum to Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Review (MPDSR) guidelines.

Support functionality of the National Newborn Steering committee.

Assess the current situation of the care of sick newborn in eight District Hospitals in West Nile, two DHs in other regions, two Regional Referral Hospitals and one national level hospital in terms of:
NICU infrastructure including the waiting space, bed space for each newborn, space for mother /care taker, space for the staff, ventilation space etc.

Availability of space, equippments and medicines for care of sick newborn in the delivery rooms

Health workers’ capacity assessment (delivery room midwives/nurse, neonatal nurse, and newborn care staff)

Status of the quality of early essential newborn care and sick newborn care including infection prevention and control (IPC) and Kangaroo Mother care (KMC).

Data management (pre-primary data tools, Newborn register, Facility dash

boards and reporting in DHIS2)

Support the eight District Hospitals in West Nile, two DHs in other regions, two Regional Referral Hospitals and one national level hospital to establish system for care of sick newborns:

Monitor each health facility for the implementation of the NICU improvement plan

Facilitate the initial training for the NICU staff with involvement of the national trainers

Support establishment of Kangaroo mother care in the 13 hospitals (8 DH in West Nile, two DHs in other regions, 2 RRH and 1 National level hospital).

Regular– hand holding and on the job coaching for the newly established/upgraded NICUs

Develop the learning plan for the NICU and delivery room staff based on the learning need assessment

Support to learning/exchange visit from the West Nile, West/Central zone to National hospitals in Kampala

Support development of guidelines and recommendations for the real time monitoring of the NICUs including monitoring of Newborns post-discharge

Recommendation for the development of NICU real time monitoring (content/indicators)
Recommendations and development of the system for community based post-discharge follow up of the NICU graduates (newborns discharged from NICUs)

Assist MoH in development of guideline for the real- time monitoring of the key NICU indicators

Document good practices and learning from the above experiences

Policy and programme briefs

Develop abstract on trends and improvement in Newborn outcome for learning and dissemination

Organize one national level forum linked to world prematurity day for high level advocacy

Document at least 3 good practices and human-interest stories

Develop protocol for the retrospective assessment of the NICUs in Uganda

To qualify asan advocate for every child you will have…

An advanced university degree required in Neonatology. Additional trainings and work experience in quality assurance, health system strengthening and management as an added advantage.

At least 10 years of professional experience working in pediatrics and NICUs at hospital level, including the development of strategies and QI approaches in clinical setting.

Experience in supporting and coordinating capacity building activities in area of newborn care including care of sick newborns

Experience in data collection, analysis, and monitoring and evaluation is an asset.

Experience working with the national and district local governments in Uganda, and a strong understanding of the health system

Proven ability to manage relationships with UNICEF partners, including UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector

Proven skills in communication, networking, strategic thinking, advocacy and fundraising

Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills.

Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences

Ability to travel and work in remote locations

Fluency in written and verbal English and local language essential

Competencies:

Commitment

Diversity and inclusion

Integrity

Communication \

Working with people

Drive for results

Planning and organizing

Formulating Strategies and Concepts

Analyzing

Relating and networking

Deciding and Initiating action

Applying technical expertise

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

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 UN Children's Fund Consultancy Jobs in Ugandan