Overview:
Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness, death, and lost economic productivity in Tanzania. While the scale-up of malaria control efforts has in many places resulted in significant reductions of malaria morbidity and mortality rates, malaria still claims an estimated 60,000 lives annually [1]. The majority of these deaths were among children under five and pregnant women. 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. Only 25% of under-five patients with suspected malaria are tested within 24 hours of the onset of fever (the recommended course of action), and fewer than 25% promptly use a recommended artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) [2].
To achieve the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership's [3] 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. CHAI's malaria work in Tanzania focuses on increasing the affordability, accessibility, and use of high-quality malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) and ACTs in the private sector. Approximately 40% of Tanzanians access treatment for malaria in private sector outlets [4], but access to high-quality affordable tests and treatment in these outlets continues to lag behind the public sector. CHAI's goal is to make sure that all Tanzanians receive appropriate, high-quality testing and treatment, no matter the outlet where they are seeking treatment.
In order to achieve this goal, CHAI's work in Tanzania consists of three main components. The first is working with the government to continue to make ACTs available and affordable in the private sector through a national subsidy program, which has seen success in the past several years but which is at risk of losing funding. The second is a national scale-up of high-quality, low cost in mRDTs in formal private sector facilities (hospitals, health centers, and dispensaries) nationwide. The third is an operational research pilot currently being conducted in Morogoro to assess the feasibility of introducing mRDTs into accredited drug dispensing outlets (ADDOs), which has the potential to significantly increase access to testing.
The Malaria Assistant Coordinator will be responsible for supporting CHAI-Tanzania's malaria work in all of the above areas, with a particular focus on the mRDT programs. The Assistant Coordinator will must be able to function independently in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate critical thinking amidst ambiguity, represent CHAI well when working with government officials and external partners, and have a strong commitment to excellence. The position will report to the Operational Research Coordinator and will based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with frequent travel to Morogoro and limited travel elsewhere in Tanzania.
[1] PMI Malaria Operational Plan, 2013
[2] Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS), 2012-2013
[4] DHS
Responsibilities:
- Assist the Operational Research Coordinator with tasks supporting the mRDT pilot program, including:
- Making regular visits (approximately once per month) to Morogoro to collect data from ADDOs, wholesalers, and public health facilities
- Organizing data and typing records into Excel
- Performing preliminary analysis on data collected
- Making regular check-in calls to the distributor and wholesalers to keep track of stock levels and identify any issues with providing or procuring supplies
- Supporting the Operational Research Coordinator to organize Quarterly Monitoring Visits, a Midline Survey, and an Endline Survey
- Assisting in the cleaning and analysis of data from the Quarterly Monitoring Visits, Midline Survey, and Endline Survey
- Participating in monitoring visits as necessary (e.g. traveling through Morogoro to visit ADDOs for up to three weeks at a time, once every 2-3 months)
- Ordering and managing supplies for the program
- Coordinating with government officials in the pilot areas
- Assist the malaria program generally with activities pertaining to the scale-up of affordable mRDTs and ACTs, including:
- Making regular check-in calls to several importers of mRDTs and ACTs to check on their stock levels and sales
- Assist with the coordination of a national endline survey
- Liaise with other NGOs and Tanzania government officials as necessary to collect data, coordinate activities, and disseminate results of the program
- Support other priorities of the National Malaria Control Program, possibly including promoting affordable ACTs and developing community-based interventions
- Gather information on related diagnosis and fever management issues from primary and secondary sources, including writing short literature reviews
- Perform other duties as required by the Operational Research Coordinator and/or the Malaria Program Manager
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's/tertiary degree;
- 1-3 years of professional experience;
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilities;
- High level of proficiency in relevant computer applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word;
- Strong written and oral English communication skills;
- The ability to work independently in unstructured settings, and communicate effectively within a remote, decentralized team;
- Strong organizational skills;
- Ability to absorb and synthesize a broad range of information;
- Willingness to spend time in remote, resource-limited settings;
- Strong diplomatic skills, and the ability to work with a wide range of people across the private, public and nonprofit sectors; and
- Fluency in Swahili.
Advantages:
- Experiencing managing large datasets;
- Experience working with NGOs and/or government organizations in Tanzania;
- Experience or training in research: developing survey tools, managing data collection, overseeing contractors, conducting analysis; and
- Experience in public health / social science / epidemiological field research a plus.
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