PALLADIUM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE (EQA) FOR MALARIA DIAGNOSIS IN BAUCHI, KEBBI, AND SOKOTO STATES
Scope of work for Malaria Quality Assurance Technical Consultants
Program activity: Building on work done in 2022, improve the quality of malaria diagnostics and quality assurance for case management (particularly malaria diagnosis using microscopy at secondary hospitals and rapid diagnostic tests at PHCs and secondary hospitals) in Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto states through engagement of three (3) malaria External Quality Assurance (EQA) expert consultants (one per state).
There is no gainsaying that Malaria remains one of the leading causes of child and maternal deaths as reported in World Malaria Report 2021. Despite good progress made in recent years to reduce malaria burden particularly in Africa, the rate of progress has levelled off recently especially in 2020 because of disruption of services due to COVID-19 pandemic. To reverse the trend, there is need for concerted efforts in promoting and facilitating safe and timely diagnosis and treatment malaria cases, as well as ensuring health workers are motivated and adequately equipped for malaria case management.
In 2021, IHP supported the SMOH, HSMB and SMEP in the three states to build the capacity of select Medical Lab Scientists (MLS) to form a State malaria EQA Team, conduct EQA Assessments, and set up EQA centers, provide supportive supervision and capacity building of MLS, lab technicians and service providers on malaria diagnosis (through microscopy and mRDTs), case management and quality assurance. In mid-2021, IHP collaborated with the state to implement external quality assurance facility visits to assess malaria diagnostic services in supported secondary and primary health facilities. The outcome of the visits was presented to the states and stakeholders and remedial plans developed to address identified gaps and challenges. In 2022, IHP plans to address the remaining gaps identified in EQA assessments building on successes recorded in 2021 by soliciting the services of three (3) experienced malaria EQA consultants (one per state) to support the state’s malaria quality assurance system through standardization of procedures, clinical mentoring of trained Medical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians on quality assurance and programming for impact. Interested applicants should express interest in their preferred states, namely: Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto states accordingly.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVE
Goal: To strengthen malaria case management by improving the diagnostic capacities of Medical laboratory Scientist and Laboratory Technicians in hospitals and primary heath care centers, and to improve and institutionalize quality assurance systems and protocols
OBJECTIVES
Through provision of technical assistance to the SMOH, SMEP, SHMB and malaria stakeholders, the consultant will ensure the following:
• A standardized and sustainable external quality assurance system for malaria diagnosis is put in place for the state, leveraging on national and global guidelines and best practices.
• Develop and implement a mentoring and supportive supervision plan that will support services providers (particularly MLS/Lab Technicians) to attain clinical competency in malaria diagnosis and sustain quality improvement.
• Find solutions to fill gaps identified during EQA assessment and facilitate quality improvement plans and processes of malaria diagnostics and case management
• Strengthen EQA facility visits to both secondary and primary health facilities for service improvement
• Support the state EQA centre to become fully function and sustainable by supporting the state to quantity and cost equipment, furniture, consumables, and reagents needed for the EQA centre and elad advocacy to SMOH for inclusion into the Annual Operational Plans.
Expected output and Deliverables
Among other things, the consultants will deliver the following:
1. A detailed work plan with timelines
2. Quantification and costing of annual reagents and consumables for the EQA centre
3. Detailed mentoring plan (physical and virtual) for skill improvement of MLS and lab technicians and SPHCDA staff and LGHA malaria focal persons on malaria diagnosis and quality assurance.
4. EQA schedule for facility visits (secondary and PHCs)
5. End of contract detailed report.
6. Any other deliverables/milestones as outlined in Table 1 and in by the grant’s agreements.
Clients
State Ministries of Health (SMOH, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP), Hospital Management Board (HNB), Local Government Health Authority (LGHA), Integrated Health Program (IHP), and the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
Please note: Payments are made based on delivery of approved deliverables. All deliverables must be of high quality and submitted in Microsoft word and in a PDF format. The deliverable will not be considered final unitl approved by the Chief of Party (COP).
Period of Performance of the consultancy: March 1 – September 29, 2023.
For more details concerning this consultancy and other associated application tools, please visit the link below: https://bit.ly/3ktZ5us
SUBMISSION INFORMATION:
Please follow the instructions as contained in the Request for Application (RFA) and submit to: [email protected]
This consultancy application closes on February 04, 2023: 11.30pm (WAT). No late application will be received after the deadline.