State Task Force, Maternal and Neonatal Health Consultant - International Development Agency

1. POSITION VACANT: State Task Force, Maternal and Neonatal Health Consultant, International Development Agency, Patna, Bihar

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Our client is a respected, International Development Agency, that works across the globe to promote children's survival, protection and development.

Project Background:

In Bihar, every hour, a woman dies while giving birth to a new life. Each year, about 8300 mothers die during pregnancy and delivery. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Bihar is 208 deaths per 1,00,000 live births (SRS 2011-13), the NMR is 27 per 1000 live births (SRS 2016), IMR is 38 per 10000 live births (SRS 2016) and U5MR is 43 per 1000 live births. The annual rate of decline in MMR in the past decade has been close to 4 points: this falls short of the required 5.5 points to achieve the SDG target. Three quarters of all neonatal deaths occurs during the first week of life, and about 20% take place in the first 24 hours. This is also the period when most maternal deaths take place. It is thus important to make the provision of maternal and newborn care through a continuum of care approach, that ensures care during critical periods of delivery and postnatal period, addresses the needs of the mother and the newborn through a seamless transition from home and village to the facility and back again. Although mother and child outcomes are associated across the whole life-cycle and into the next generation, the most radical effects of maternal mortality on child survival are in the pregnancy and neonatal period. Obstetric complications, particularly in labour, are a major source of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths, perhaps responsible for as much as 58% of such outcomes. Intrapartum risk factors increase the risk of perinatal or neonatal death more than pre-pregnancy or antenatal factors. Likewise, the repercussions for children who survive the death of their mothers can be staggering. Stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and maternal morbidity and mortality fit together as public health priorities. Research has shown that approximately 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be averted if women had timely access to essential and basic health-care services.

Associations between place of birth (or the presence of a skilled attendant) and neonatal deaths are similar to those for maternal deaths; 90% coverage of facility-based clinical care alone could reduce neonatal mortality by 23–50%. If outreach and family-community care were added and achieved similar coverage, the reduction would be 31–61%. The three biggest causes of neonatal death are preterm delivery, complications of presumptive birth asphyxia, and infection. The first two of these are manifest at the time of birth and about three-quarters of neonatal deaths occur in the first week, most of them in the first 2 days. Achievement of high coverage of health centers based intrapartum care, a qualitative change in labour monitoring and in early care for preterm newborn babies is likely to translate into a fall in early neonatal mortality.

The quality care in maternal component is quite weak and the protocols for maternal care including clinical care, infection prevention, documentation and record keeping are either not available or not implemented. Therefore, quality care in maternal component needs focus in the light of the ongoing QA FBNC model. The existing QA formats should incorporate the maternal component expanding the ambit to QA MNCH instead. However, external support is essential to build the internal capacities of the institutions to follow QA mechanisms for MNCH.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision and guidance of SPO-Child Health, SHSB, Govt. Bihar, the State Task Force, Maternal and Neonatal Health Consultant will have the following job responsibilities for the position:

Key Deliverables:

(1) Support District Health Society of Aspirational Districts to identify and track high risk pregnancies;
(2 Support DHS of IDA supported districts for ensuring quality services in PMSMA and VHND;
(3) Support SHSB for implementation of Laqshya program in selected facilities of the state to improve labour room services ;
(4)  Support quality assurance cell to implement Kayakalp initiatives for improving WASH in health facilities in labour room, maternity wards and SNCUs;
(5) Support DHS of Aspirational districts for development of Model labour room at all district hospitals and selected CHC/PHC;
(6) Support Training cell of SHSB for rationalizing budget distribution for SBA training based on training load;
(7) Mentoring cum supportive supervision of SBA training to ensure quality of SBA training and share reports with SHSB;
(8) Capacity development of the system QA cells in the district and state enabling to mentor, monitor and support progressive development of quality MNCH services in health facilities;
(9) Facilitate implementation of QA mechanisms in SNCUs of the state;
(10) Share the status report with the district and state with inputs for action required
(11) Prepare, facilitate and support dedicated human resource for implementation and follow up of planned measures aiming at quality improvement.;
(12) Collect evidences on results and document best practices.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification:
(1) Applicants must have a degree in BHMS/ BDS or Post Graduate in Sociology/Social Sciences;
(2) Experience of internship or working in the field of public health with a State/ National public health department / organization will be preferred.

Experience:
(1) Minimum three to five years of work experience in in Public health;
(2) At least three years of State level work experience in MCH program/project management with adequate knowledge of Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child health and IMNCI/FBNC/HBNC.

Skills and Competencies:
(1) High level of computer proficiency with specific familiarity with commonly used Windows and MS Office software and database software
(2) Excellent oral, written communication and presentation skills in English and Hindi;
(3) Demonstrate ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with strong facilitation skills, ability to analyze reports, plan and monitor projects

5. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:

The STF-MNH shall be hired on a consultancy contract through Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd. (SAMS), a respected HR Agency.

6. PROFESSIONAL FEES:

Professional fees of the selected candidate shall be Rs.58,850 per month for the period of the consultancy assignment. (Note: Subsistence, Mobility and Contingency support shall be separately provided, to address field travel and related costs incurred by the STF-MNH).

7. LOCATION: Patna, with need base travel to field.

8. DURATION: The consultancy assignment will be effective from the date of joining till December 31, 2018.

9. REFERENCE: STF-MNH

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612
Email:  stf-mnh@sams.co.in

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply to stf-mnh@sams.co.in with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organization and expected compensation, by or before July 14, 2018.