Company
Profile:
UNICEF’s mission
in Nigeria is to help governments at all levels, organizations, communities and
families provide every child with education, health, equality and protection.
UNICEF Nigeria is recruiting to fill the position of:
Position:
Maternal New-Born and Child Health (MNCH) Consultant
Vacancy number:
VN-NGR-30-2013
Contract Type:
SSA
Duration: 11
Months
Location:
Adamawa and Kebbi
The maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in Nigeria is one of the
highest in the world with an estimated 545 maternal deaths for every 100,000
live births (NDHS 2008). Nigeria contributes about 10% of global burden of
maternal deaths. The main causes of high maternal morbidity and mortality among
women include anaemia in pregnancy due to malaria, intra-partum and post-partum
hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labour, and hypertensive conditions in
pregnancy.
The morbidity and mortality among children in Nigeria is also very high. The
under-five mortality rate staggers at 158 per 1,000 live births and the infant
mortality (IMR) at 97 per 1,000 live births (MICS, 2011), but still higher than
many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with similar GDP. Pneumonia,
malaria, and diarrhoea continue to take lives of many children in Nigeria. Under
nutrition and malnutrition are major causes of childhood morbidity, It is
estimated that 24% of children under five (U5) years of age are underweight and
36% of children are estimated to be stunted (MICS 2011).
Health indices are particular very poor in the northern part of Nigeria.
Maternal and infant mortality rates are 3-4 times the national average. In
Adamawa State, 15% of adult women were underweight/thin while 11.6% were
overweight/obese while in Kebbi 16.6% were underweight/thin and 23.8% overweight/obese.
Both conditions are associated with negative nutritional outcomes in childhood.
Low birth weight, among other causes, is indicative of the poor nutritional
status of the mother. The poor health indices in Nigeria may be attributable to
four main problems identified with Nigeria’s health system which include:
- Governance
and stewardship: Autonomy of the 3 tiers of government
(Federal, State, and Local Government Administration (LGAs) has led to
duplication of efforts, weak governance and lack of accountability; - Human
and Financial Resources: Inappropriate allocation of
human and financial resources with greater support to tertiary and
specialized care, instead of primary health care; - Coverage: Low
coverage of core maternal, newborn and child health interventions, and - Limited
access to
health services due to financial and socio-cultural barriers.
Federal Ministry of
Health, National Planning Commission, European Union and UNICEF launched the
new EU-MNCH project which seeks to contribute to addressing the sub-optimal
status of health for women and children in Adamawa and Kebbi States
characterized by high maternal and childhood deaths.
The goal of the project is to assist the Government of Kebbi and Adamawa in
line with their State Strategic Health Development Plans (SSHDP) to reduce
maternal, newborn and child deaths by significantly improving the health and
nutrition status of women and children under 5 years by ensuring an equitable
and strengthened primary health care delivery system
Rationale
This position is to support the State ministry of health, state primary health
care development agency and other partners in the implementation of
evidence-based interventions that will result in the scale-up of and improved
access to maternal and newborn health services with a particular focus on
systems strengthening, local capacity building, focused mentoring in local
facilities and communities in Adamawa and Kebbi States.
The officer will support the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners in the
implementation of various strategies and interventions that will strengthen
partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at LGA level,
increased transparency and accountability, capacity building, provision of
sustainable and scaled-up integrated MNCH service delivery with equity and
community participation.
Minimum
qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required
- Knowledge
of the latest developments and technology in related fields. - Ability
to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training
skills. - Computer
skills, including internet navigation and various office applications. - Demonstrated
ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious
and effective working relationships, both within and outside the
organization. - Commitment
to continuous learning for professional development. - Initiative,
passion and commitment to UNICEF’s mission and professional values.
- Master’s
in Public Health and university degree in Medicine or Nursing/Midwifery or
related technical field. - Ten
years progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and
evaluating of health projects particularly, safe motherhood and neonatal
care projects. Experience with Life Saving Skills training and practice an
advantage. - Fluency
in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working
language an asset. Knowledge of local working language of the duty
station, an asset.
Specific
objectives:
- The
consultant is to work with the SPHCDA, SMOH and other partners to achieve
the following key results - Increased
proportion of women who are able to correctly recognize pregnancy
complications and seek timely care, when required. - Increased
proportion of poor, marginalized, rural women with increased financial
access to a health facility for pre –pregnancy, routine ANC and Emergency
Newborn and Obstetric Care services; - Improved
functionality of the health service provision for fixed and outreach
services through adequate and qualified health personnel, adequate
supplies and equipment. - Improved
nutrition of women and children along the continuum of care from
preconception to childhood. - Strengthened
health systems governance by improving decentralized planning and
budgeting processes for improved accountability and transparency in the
delivery of maternal and newborn services.
Major Tasks to
be accomplished:
State and LGA
- Work
with the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners to support dissemination of
national policy, strategy, guidelines and quality of care model for MNCH
at state and LGA level. - Support
SMOH and SPHCDA by providing technical assistance to the development of
good quality state and LGA annual operational plans and their review using
the Primary Health Care Mechanism. - Support
dissemination and use of approved training modules and guidelines on
selected high impact Integrated Maternal New-born Child Health continuum
of care interventions such as- Focused AnteNatal Care (FANC); Skilled
Birth Attendance (SBA); Emergency Obstetric and New-born Care (EmONC);
Helping Babies Breath (HBB); Post Natal Care (PNC); Community Based
New-born Care and Integrated Community Case Management (Iccm) for
diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia. - Support
state and LGA level supportive supervision, monitoring and evaluation of
MNCH programmes.
Health
Facilities:
- Priority
areas of work to be supported at this level and strategy based on TSS
model (Training, Supplies, Supportive Supervision) include but not limited
to the following: - Setting
up and implement a quality of care model for MNCH services in health
facilities based on few selected high impact interventions. - Training
of health workers using approved training modules and guidelines on
selected high impact Integrated Maternal New-born Child Health continuum
of care interventions with assistance of state and LGA based TOTs. - Support
end user monitoring of equipment and supplies provided to health
facilities. - Participate
in On the Job Training, Supportive Supervision and mentoring of health
workers.
Communities,
villages, households
- Support
setting up of structures for implementation of Community Health Strategy –
WDCs, VDCs, training of VHWs, CHEWs and CHWs. - End
user monitoring of supplies and demand for MNCH services in communities
and households. - Use
updated Mama/CHEW/CBNC kits as entry point for promotion of desired health
seeking behaviour and link with immunization/polio related activities. - Promote
uptake of selected high impact family care practices jointly with other
sections namely -C4D, Nutrition, Child Protection, Media, advocacy and
communications and WASH. - Promote
uptake of integrated Community Case Management for diarrhoea, pneumonia
and malaria.
End Product: (eg. final report,
article, document etc):
- Annual
State work and operational plans - Quarterly
DHIS and PHC review reports - Reports
of Workshop/Meetings with actionable recommendations. - Reports
of milestones achieved to advance project implementation.
Estimated time of
consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:
11 Months term is required for this assignment in line with the current UNICEF
Nigeria country development
How to Apply
If you are interested in the position and meet the requirements, please send
cover letter (one-page summary statement that describes how your experience and
qualification relate to the job description) and a scanned/PDF copy of the
completed and signed UN Personal History Form (Please Download Here) to:nrecruit@unicef.org by
close of business on Tuesday, 21 January, 2014.
Please put the position title you are applying for on the subject line of your
email.
UNICEF, a smoke-free environment, is committed to gender equality in its
mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly women are
strongly encouraged to apply.
