Management Sciences for Health/Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (MSH/SPS) Program in Namibia Short Term Consultants

Management Sciences for Health/Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (MSH/SPS) Program in Namibia Short Term Consultants
Management Sciences for Health/Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (MSH/SPS) Program in Namibia is a pharmaceutical systems strengthening program funded by USAID/ PEPFAR Namibia that supports the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS).
The MoHSS with the support from MSH/SPS Program conceptualised The Namibia ART Adherence Assessment and Improvement Initiative, which aims to provide knowledge about adherence by patients on ART and current adherence support efforts at the health facility level. This will guide the formulation of effective and targeted interventions aimed at improving patients’ adherence to ART.
Therefore, a baseline survey is the first step of the Namibia ART Adherence Assessment and Improvement Initiative to be carried out in 20 public health facilities in Namibia. This activity will take place between November 2010 and April 2011.
Brief Purpose Statement and Planned Activities
Coordinate data collection, entry and cleaning in the baseline survey of the Namibia ART Adherence Assessment and Improvement Initiative. The purpose of this activity is to provide a report of current levels of adherence, activities related to adherence and factors associated with adherence at health facilities in Namibia with the overall aim of formulating targeted and effective interventions to improve patients’ adherence to ART in Namibia.
MSH/SPS invites applications for the following short-term consultants to carry out a baseline survey under the Namibia ART Adherence Assessment and Improvement Initiative:
1. Study Coordinator
Duties and Responsibilities
The Study Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation and co-ordination of the survey activities under the guidance of the Adherence Technical Working Group and the Principal Investigator. He/She will be required to, amongst others, develop an indepth understanding of the study design and goals and participate fully in the successful implementation and execution of the study. Supervise the Assistant Study Coordinator. Plan and coordinate the initiation of the study, and the establishment of guiding procedures for data collection, entry and cleaning.
Work in collaboration with the Adherence TWG team to ensure preparedness of facilities for the survey. Plan and coordinate appropriate piloting of the data collection tools and the data entry process. Oversee the data collection process to ensure appropriate selection and training of data collectors for the survey. This is a six months contract.
Education, Training and Competencies
Master’s Degree or other Post-Graduate Degree in a relevant field (Medicine, Pharmacy or other health-related field preferred). Minimum five years of work experience in public health and HIV research and/or coordination preferred. Experience in coordinating research studies/projects similar to the one proposed strongly preferred. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (Fluency in English- oral and written). Strong computer skills- Excel, SPSS.
General knowledge of epidemiology of HIV/AIDS required. Strong organizational, leadership and management skills as well as ability to multi-task required.
2. Assistant Study Coordinator
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will assist the Study Coordinator in the day-to-day implementation and co-ordination of the survey activities and will be required to amongst others, develop an in-depth understanding of the study design and goals and participate fully in the successful implementation and execution of the study thereof. This is a six months contract
Education, Training and Competencies
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Medicine, Pharmacy or other health-related field preferred). Minimum 3 years of work experience in public health and HIV research and/coordination preferred. Experience in coordinating research studies/projects strongly preferred. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (fluency in English- oral and
written).
Strong computer skills- Excel, SPSS, General knowledge of epidemiology of HIV/AIDS required. Strong organizational and management skills as well as ability to multi-task required.
3. Statistician
Duties and Responsibilities
The Statistician will be responsible for providing advice on sampling, appropriate statistical tests in line with the study design and analysis of data collected in the nationwide baseline adherence survey. He/She will be required to work closely with the Study Coordinator in, amongst others, conduct a comprehensive preview of all interview schedules prior to the commencement of piloting of the data collection tools and data entry process and advise on any changes needed to facilitate data entry and analysis.
The statistician will be engaged full-time in three phases of the study: for two weeks prior to commencement of the data collection piloting process, another two weeks for review of the piloting process and for four weeks to conduct data analysis after data collection and entry processes are complete.
Education, Training and Competencies
Master’s degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, or related quantitative field. Familiarity with database management and knowledge of operating systems including Windows and computer programming language of SAS, R &/or STATA, SPSS, MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word. Experience in data analysis in studies similar to the one proposed strongly preferred.
4. Data Collection Company
Duties and Responsibilities
The Data Collection Company will be responsible for data collection, entry and cleaning under the guidance of the Adherence Technical Working Group and the Study Coordinator. The company will be required to, amongst others to, recruit suitable data collectors to collect data at various health facilities included in the survey and work closely with
the Study Coordinator and the Adherence TWG to ensure appropriate training of the data collectors in preparation for the exercise. This is a three months contract.
Competencies
Proof of registration in Namibia, sufficient financial capacity to carry out the exercise, sufficient technical and professional capacity to conduct the exercise and proven evidence of participation in similar data collection and
entry projects in the country. Data collectors recruited must have sufficient proficiency (native speaker level) in the local languages of Namibia for the areas where they will be assigned to conduct patient interviews.
Technical Specifications and Submission
Interested individuals or companies are required to submit their detailed letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, current company profile (if applicable) with names and contact information of the company’s technical team (telephone and e-mail address). If available, information on similar projects undertaken by the company in the recent past.
Applications, clearly marked which position applied for, can be submitted via e-mail to: info@msh.org.na
Closing date for submission of applications: Friday, October 15th , 2010.
Enquiries can be forwarded to dpereko@msh.org.na
Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and no faxed applications will be accepted.