National Consultant

National consultant for revision and update the technical guidance on and implementation of elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis.

1. Background

In 2018, the Ministry of Health approved the National Action Plan (NAP) on elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis (Decision 7130/QD-BYT dated 29 November 2018). The Decision has set the overall objective of moving toward elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) by 2030 and specific targets were set for three periods 2018-2020, 2021-2025 and 2026-2030.

To implement the National Action Plan on EMTCT, a national technical guideline was developed in 2019 to provide detailed guidance to provinces in implementation of the NAP. In 2021, the national guidelines on HIV diagnosis and treatment was updated including new recommendations on prevention of mother to child transmission. In addition, in 2020 WHO released policy brief on guidelines on antiviral prophylaxis for prevention of mother-to child transmission of hepatitis B virus in pregnancy. Thus, the MOH technical guidelines on implementation of interventions for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis also need to be updated accordingly.

The potential consultant is requested to support MOH in revision and update the technical guidance on implementation of interventions for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis to be in line with the WHO new recommendations and national guidelines on HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment. The consultant is also requested to support Can Tho CDC in implementation of the new guidance and provide technical assistance to identify any difficulties faced during implementation and provide technical support to address them.

This is a part-time STC for 55 fulltime working days or equivalent.

2. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 25th April 2022
End date: 25th December 2022

3. Work to be performed

a) Specific objectives of the consultancy activity

To revise and update the national technical guidelines on implementation the interventions to prevention mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis.
To support Can Tho CDC in implementation of the new guidelines and provincial action plan on EMTCT

b) Method(s) to carry out the activity

Work closely with WHO technical staff to understand the scope of works and requirement
Regular meeting with WHO technical staff during implementing the activity
Study WHO guidelines on antiviral prophylaxis for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in pregnancy and national guidelines on prevention and treatment of HIV and syphilis 2021.
Work with MCH department and technical working group (TWG) during revising and updating the guidelines
Finalize the technical guidelines based on feedback from technical working group.
Work with Can Tho CDC to estimate baseline indicators of EMTCT and provide technical support to Can Tho CDC and DHC onsite and online to ensure provincial action plan is implemented and key indicators are measured.

4. Description of the tasks/process involved in carrying out the activity

Task 1: Revision and update the national technical guidelines on implementation the interventions to prevention mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis.

Activities: Work with MCH and TWG to revise and update the national technical guidelines on implementation the interventions to prevention mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis.
Output/s: MOH approval of the technical guidelines on implementation the interventions to prevention mother to child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis.

Task 2: Support Can Tho CDC in implementation of the guidelines and national action plan on EMTCT

Activities:

Review the baseline situation of mother to child transmission in Can Tho
Provide technical support to Can Tho CDC and DHC in implementation of the new guidelines and provincial action plan on EMTCT

Output/s: Report on baselines situation and progression of implementation of technical guidance and provincial action plan on EMTCT including results and challenges.

5. Specific requirements

a) Qualifications required: University degree on medicine or public health with post graduate training on HIV and/or viral hepatitis and/or STI.

b) Experience required:

Minimum 10- year experience of clinical or programme management of HIV and/or HBV and/or STI.
Demonstrated experiences in development of national guidelines especially on HIV diagnosis and treatment and EMTCT
Work experiences in implementation of HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, care and treatment and EMTCT programmes
Experiences working with Ministry of Health and provincial CDC.

c) Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Demonstrated technical capacity on HIV, hepatitis and syphilis prevention and treatment
Good understanding on reproductive health system in Viet Nam
Familiarity with WHO policies and guidelines related to prevention of mother to child transmission HIV, hepatitis and syphilis

d) Language requirements: Written and spoken fluency in both Vietnamese and English is essential.

e) Competencies: