Consultant – Surveillance of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease – (1901437)
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract duration: 8 months
:
Job Posting
: Mar 21, 2019, 4:25:41 PM
Closing Date
: Apr 10, 2019, 10:59:00 PM
Primary Location
: Denmark-Copenhagen
Organization
: EU/CDS – Communicable Diseases
Schedule
: Full-time
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.
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PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
According to the WHO recent estimates, of leishmaniasis incidence the regional incidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is estimated at less than 2% of the global burden of leishmaniasis. However, it should be mentioned that leishmaniasis is a poorly reported disease with an underestimated burden in most countries of the WHO European Region. Half of Europe’s countries are considered endemic for leishmaniasis and this problem should not be neglected. Imported cases of leishmaniasis are also a concern in the European Region.
Responding to the threat of leishmaniasis the Regional office has developed a Strategic framework for leishmaniasis control in the WHO European Region 2014–2020, which outlines the regional goal and objectives to be achieved by 2020 and recommended strategic approaches and priority interventions. The regional goal on leishmaniasis is, by 2020, to eliminate mortality due to VL, significantly reduce morbidity due to VL and CL, contribute to improving the health status of populations at risk and minimize the socioeconomic losses provoked by the disease in countries where leishmaniasis is a public health problem. One of the objectives of the Strategic Framework is to strengthen the surveillance of leishmaniasis to ensure detection and registraThe overall aim of the consultancy is to support Malaria, neglected tropical diseases and other parasitic diseases programme in assessing and streamlining current reporting mechanisms and indicators for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease to facilitate the implementation of the World Information System to Control and Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (WISCENTDs) in selected endemic countries in the WHO European Region, expand real-time online surveillance of leishmaniasis, based on the WHO integrated data platform and developing/updating leishmaniasis and Chagas cases maps and leishmaniasis vectors’ maps.
Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis) is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted to humans through contact with the faeces and/or urine of infected blood-sucking triatomine bugs. T.cruzi can also be transmitted by blood transfusion from infected donors; by congenital (mother to child) transmission during pregnancy or childbirth; by consumption of food that has been contaminated with waste from infected triatomine bugs, typically causing outbreaks or oral transmission; by organ transplantation from infected donors; and even by laboratory accidents.
Transmission of Chagas disease in non-endemic countries – that is, transmission in countries outside Latin America with exceptional or no vectoral transmission – has emerged since the beginning of 2000. This phenomenon is mainly linked to population mobility, notably migration. During the past decades, transmission has occurred in non-endemic countries in North America (Canada and the United States of America), the Western Pacific Region (mainly Australia and Japan) and, more recently, in Europe.
Considering the above-mentioned, WHO Regional Office for Europe is planning to hire a consultant with experience in leishmaniasis and Chagas diseases prevention and control as well as knowledge in using online surveillance and mapping tools (such as ArcGIS, DHIS2).
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The overall aim of the consultancy is to support Malaria, neglected tropical diseases and other parasitic diseases programme in assessing and streamlining current reporting mechanisms and indicators for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease to facilitate the implementation of the World Information System to Control and Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (WISCENTDs) in selected endemic countries in the WHO European Region, expand real-time online surveillance of leishmaniasis, based on the WHO integrated data platform and developing/updating leishmaniasis and Chagas cases maps and leishmaniasis vectors’ maps.
Deliverables:
• Update WHO integrated data platform with data available for the WHO European region Member States (including also updating information for the Global Health Observatory)
• Customize WHO platform for leishmaniasis surveillance and control in identified Member States of the WHO European region, including designing excel forms for import to countries that do not currently use WHO platform
• Develop/update leishmaniasis/Chagas morbidity and mortality maps as well as leishmaniasis vectors’ maps for the WHO European Region
• Develop 2017/2018 leishmaniasis country profiles for selected countries of the WHO European Region
• Support countries in designing and implementing operational research activities, if/when needed
• Assist in developing of Contribute to the development of the report of on the Non-endemic countries initiative (NECI) meeting on control/elimination of Chagas disease which was held on 19-21 November 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland and follow-up on implementation of the meeting outcomes
• Contribute to development of the relevant publications (for example WER or scientific paper) on epidemiological information on leishmaniasis and Chagas disease in the WHO European region.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential:
• University degree in medicine and/or public health and/or epidemiology
• Background in medicine/biology with specialization on vector-borne diseases / tropical medicine
Desirable:
• Master or PhD in communicable/parasitic diseases surveillance and control
Experience
Essential: At least 5 years’ experience working in vector-borne diseases, particularly leishmaniasis and Chagas prevention and control
Use of language skills
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English
Desirable: Knowledge of Russian language is an asset
Skills
Specific skills required:
• Teaching and communication skills
• Report- and publications-writing skills (in English)
• Knowledge of online surveillance tools
• Knowledge of mapping software (such as ArcGIS)
CONTRACT DURATION
1 May 2019 – 31 December 2019
REMUNERATION
The level of remuneration would be $7000/month in line with the qualifications and years of experience required to deliver the Terms of Reference.
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