Background

The goal of the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Malaria Control Programme is to reduce malaria incidence to 17 per 1000 population by 2025. As a way of monitoring quality of care of malaria cases in the institutions, the MOHCC conducts case management audits. Findings from the audit are used to come up with recommendations for improvements of quality care provision to malaria patients in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is inviting applications from interested consultants or health experts to carry out a malaria case management audit in the country focusing on the period January 2019 to December 2021, with the audit being conducted from April 2022- June 2022.

Objectives of the Case Management Audit

The main objective of the audit is to assess management of uncomplicated and severe malaria cases at different levels of care against set National standards.

The audit will also assess availability of case management resources in the health facilities including but not limited to trained health workers, laboratory and medical supplies.

 The results of this independent assessment will guide the ministry in planning and resource allocation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Works

Under the guidance and supervision of the MOHCC-PR the Consultant will work closely with MOHCC Health facility representatives to conduct the Case Management Audit, On day-to-day basis the Consultant will work with NMCP-Director who will facilitate the assignment of the Consultant with the provinces. The scope of the consultancy is to conduct Malaria Case Management Audit for the period of 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021.

Methodology or Approach to the Assignment

As part of the proposal for the conduct of the assignment, the Consultant will suggest technically sound methodology with a roadmap, and this will be evaluated as part of the selection process. The successful consultant will, however, propose a final methodology or approach for the conduct of the assignment, in consultation with UNDP and the MOHCC, and this will reflect in the Inception Report. In the meantime, the proposed methodology or approach may consider some of the following:

1. Details on methodology to use
2. Develop and pretest appropriate data collection tools.
3. Recruit and train data collection teams.
4. Oversee the data collection, entry and data analyses processes.
5. Produce a comprehensive report of the case management audit.

Time Frame

A Gantt Chart detailing the key steps, timelines, assumptions and budget should be provided in the proposal/concept note for the audit. Examples of such steps could include: Orientation meetings with stakeholders, training of data collectors, data collection, entry, cleaning, analysis, report writing, Dissemination meetings and finalization and submission of report.

Deliverables

• The consultants’ analysis should determine   the following key indicators
• Proportion of suspected malaria cases with confirmed diagnosis by RDT or microscopy
• Proportion of uncomplicated malaria cases receiving correct treatment as outlined in the treatment guidelines.
• Proportion of uncomplicated cases that received the second-line treatment Artesunate-Amodiaquine
• Proportion of malaria cases in pre-elimination areas that received Primaquine stat dose.
• The proportion of patients with severe malaria who received the correct treatment as outlined in the treatment guidelines.
• The number of parenteral Artesunate doses given to each severe malaria case
• Proportion of U5s receiving correct treatment within 24 hours of developing symptoms.Intermittent Preventive Therapy coverage (IPTp1, IPTp2 & IPTp3 and above).
• Malaria deaths characterized by age, gender and complication
• Malaria case management and stock management training gaps
• Anti-malaria medicines and commodities availability.

Inception report:

• The Consultant will prepare an inception report which details the consultant’s understanding of the evaluation and in how the evaluation will be conducted. This is to ensure that the consultant and the key stakeholders and the MoHCC have a shared understanding of the evaluation. The inception report will include the evaluation design, methodology, questions, data sources and collection analysis tools for each data source and the measure by which each question will be evaluated. The report will include the scope of work, work plan, time frame, analysis plan and budget. The inception report will be presented to key stakeholders for finalization.

DATA COLLECTION

• Draft evaluation report
• The Consultant will prepare a draft evaluation report, in the appropriate format as advised by the National Malaria Control Programme. The draft report will be submitted to the MoHCC and all the MoHCC key stakeholders for review and comments. MOHCC will then call for a validation meeting, which will assist the consultant to finalize the evaluation report

Final Draft Evaluation Report:

• The comprehensive final report to be presented to UNDP, NMCP leadership and MOHCC Top Management. Within the specified timelines.

KEY DELIVERABLES see comments below

Duty Station

Harare, with travel through the country. This is a National Survey and the consultant will be expected to travel to any part of the country as required.

Management Arrangements

1. The Director National Malaria Control Programme will directly supervise the contractor, sign for acceptance of output and the contractor will directly report to Director National Malaria Control Programme and will provide guidance on activities that the consultant may need to know.
2. The contractor will be required to present report results/outputs to the Director National Malaria Control Programme on a fortnightly basis.
3. The Director National Malaria Control Programme will be responsible for identifying institutions/organizations/individuals with whom the contractor is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with in the course of performing the work
4. The Director National Malaria Control Programme remains the contact point for user specification gathering and interview with key stakeholders
5. The contractor is expected to update the application as shared by Director National Malaria Control Programme.
6. The NMCP will support the consultants in getting the necessary clearance from the different health authorities
7. The contract will be managed by UNDP and any contractual issues to be discussed with UNDP.

 Maintainability and Ownership

The product ownership is under the Ministry of Health and Child Care from conception.

1. Contractual Arrangement

• An Agreement will be signed between UNDP and the  consultant.

Security: Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries.

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. The consultant will be responsible for his/her travel costs and the data collectors in the field, trainings, field work, data entry cleaning and report writing. Transport for field mission to the sampled health facilities will be provided by the MOHCC.

EVALUATION

Evaluation

Candidates will be evaluated using a combined scoring method with the qualifications and methodology weighted at 70% and the price offer weighted at 30%.  Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49% (out of 70%) points on the technical qualifications part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Communication:

Excellent and effective written and oral skills; ability to persuade people with varying points of view and to present information in a concise and accurate manner, ability to clearly communicate links between the organizations.

Planning and Organizing:

• Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work and that of others;
• Ability to work under pressure and uses time efficiently;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by valuing ideas and expertise of others and is willing to learn from others

LANGUAGE:

• Fluent in English

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• The prospective consultant should have a Medical Degree. A post graduate degree in Public Health, Biostatistics, Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology is an added advantage

  Relevant Experience

• Registered with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe as a Medical Practitioner/ Specialist
• Knowledge in Malaria case management
• 10 years Professional   Experience   in   the   area   of specialization
• Should have participated in at least two case management audits or similar assessments in Zimbabwe or within the region.
• Should be well versed in the Zimbabwe health delivery system. Consultant should have appreciation of M&E and OR Biostatics
• Knowledge and at least 2 years’ experience in Zimbabwe malaria treatment guidelines,

At least one year Working experience in Rural and urban areas