Volunteer, Malaria Case Management Analyst

Country: Uganda             

City: Kampala

Type: International Volunteer   

Business Unit: Malaria & Vaccines

Job Location: Uganda (Kampala)             

Overview:

Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness, death, and lost economic productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. While the scale-up of malaria control efforts has in many places resulted in significant reductions of malaria morbidity and mortality rates, malaria still claimed an estimated 660,000 lives in 2010. The majority of these deaths were among children under-five and pregnant women[1]. Continuing to reduce the burden of disease will require further increases in access to critical prevention tools, such as insecticide-treated nets, and increasing access to and uptake of high-quality diagnostic tests and treatments. In most sub-Saharan African countries, less than 20%[2] of people with suspected malaria receive a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis and less than 50%[3] of those receiving an antimalarial for uncomplicated malaria use a recommended artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)[4]. To achieve the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership’s[5] goal of near zero-deaths from malaria by 2015, the key barriers that restrict access to recommended diagnostics and treatments for malaria must be overcome. Not only will this dramatically reduce the number of malaria-related deaths in the immediate future, it will also move countries towards elimination of the disease in the long run. The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) work will focus on activities that achieve the greatest possible impact in terms of reducing malaria mortality and attaining value for money. There is growing consensus that for greater health impact, cost-effective management of malaria, and accurate understanding of true burden – which enables better planning and resource allocation – public health interventions should focus on improving fever case management, including access to both malaria diagnosis and treatment. To date, CHAI’s work in malaria case management has focused on increasing access to and use of the most effective, quality assured malaria drugs – artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Since the beginning of 2009, CHAI provided technical assistance to countries participating in the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm), a manufacturer-level subsidy designed to dramatically increase access to ACTs across all sectors where patients seek treatment. During the two-year pilot, prices of ACTs decreased and access increased substantially[6].  In addition to making the most effective treatment for malaria accessible and affordable, CHAI is also working with Ministries of Health across a number of countries to rapidly scale up malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to improve health outcomes and achieve greater value-for-money on RDT and ACT investments. CHAI’s efforts include piloting innovative methods to increase access to confirmatory malaria diagnosis to ensure that every person treated for malaria receives a confirmatory diagnosis. These activities include negotiating low prices for RDTs at the global manufacturer level, assessing the feasibility of expanding access to RDTs across all sectors, and testing training and mentorship models to increase use of and adherence to RDTs results. CHAI aims to use this portfolio to influence policy to make diagnostic tools widely available and accepted. Looking forward, CHAI will continue to prioritize high-impact interventions by supporting countries to develop and implement malaria treatment and diagnosis strategies, create robust forecasts for ACTs and RDTs, and gather market intelligence in an effort to build a healthy, sustainable market for ACTs and RDTs. [1] World Malaria Report,2012. [2] World Malaria Report, 2011 [3] ACT Watch, 2011, http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/327 [4] Based on 4.2 million vials procured in 2012 of a CHAI calculated 50 million vials to treat all cases [5] http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/rbmmandate.html [6] ACTWatch Household Surveys and select AMFm OR projects

Responsibilities:

The Malaria Case Management Analyst will be responsible for supporting CHAI’s efforts to increase access to and uptake of ACTs and RDTs. In addition, the Analyst will support CHAI’s malaria diagnosis operational research projects in Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to rapidly scaling up RDTs in Uganda and Cameroon’s public sectors to improve health outcomes and achieve greater value-for-money on RDT and ACT investments, and in Kenya and Tanzania to help spark the uptake of RDTs in the private sector through both supply and demand side interventions. The Analyst must be able to function independently in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate critical thinking amidst ambiguity, and have a strong commitment to excellence.  The position will be based in Kampala, Uganda, with limited travel to regional focal countries. Main Tasks and Responsibilities: In CHAI malaria diagnosis focal countries where operational research is being carried out, provide remote and in-country support to CHAI’s country offices to establish a critical evidence base of best practices for introducing and scaling up RDTs: Gather information on related diagnosis and fever management issues from primary and secondary sources, including writing short literature reviews and liaising with global technical experts as needed. Support the development, implementation and dissemination of projects to test new approaches to improving uptake and adherence to RDTs, including assisting with writing concept notes, protocols, survey tools, and with overall survey implementation and interventions (e.g. training, mentorship). Help assist with planning and executing demand generation campaigns that aim to modify treatment seeking behavior for fever illness. Contribute toward information gathering and documentation of programmatic best practices and lessons learned for scale up of malaria diagnosis for national and global audiences. In CHAI focal countries, support teams to increase access to and appropriate use of malaria diagnosis tools and treatment: Provide countries with general management support and carry out critical analyses for malaria case management strategic planning processes. Support countries to apply for funding to implement their case management strategies.

Qualifications:

Qualities Required: Bachelor’s/tertiary degree and at least 1 year of professional experience after university graduation; Exceptional problem solving skills; Excellent qualitative analytical capabilities ; Strong quantitative capabilities; Strong written and oral communication skills, in particular the ability to work independently in unstructured settings, and communicate effectively within a remote, decentralized team; Strong organizational skills; Ability to multi-task and to be effective in high-pressure situations; Ability to absorb and synthesize a broad range of information; and, High level of proficiency in relevant computer applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Advantages: Experience in public health; social science / epidemiological field research a plus; Experience living and working in Africa and/or developing countries; and, Experience or training in research: developing survey tools, managing data collection, overseeing contractors, leading analysis.

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