Capable team to implement a pilot of Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial (WHO)

Job Title: #014

Capable team to implement a pilot of Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP) in Viet Nam

1. Background

The Enhance Gonorrhoea Surveillance Programme (EGASP) is being coordinated by WHO in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention (US CDC - DSTDP) to strengthen monitoring of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in sentinel countries across the globe. EGASP aims to ensure more valid and comparable data globally, and to explore a model for AMR early warning system. EGASP was first implemented in Thailand and then the Philippines and in 2023, it is further expanded to Viet Nam.

EGASP utilizes standardized protocol for data collection and laboratory testing. Sampling is systematic, epidemiologic data is linked to laboratory results, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is performed by Etest. In addition, the capacity of the identified laboratories to perform gonorrhoea culture and AST is continuously being improved through training and putting in place adequate internal and external laboratory quality assurance (QA) system. The experience of the initial implementation phase will inform the expansion of EGASP to other countries.

Anatomic site of specimen; (4) Sex; (5) Age; (6) Whether patient has had sex with men, women, or both; (7) Whether patient identifies as transgender; (8) Whether patient has had dysuria or discharge; (9) Antibiotic use within the last 2 weeks; (10) Treatment given for this episode of gonorrhoea).

Task 2: Collect specimens and perform the tests as protocol (gram stain, culture, E-tests. …) and record and report the data

Activities:

Collect gonococcal specimens from men presenting with urethral discharge (urethral specimens only).
Perform gram stain
Conduct gonococcal culture and ensure proper storage, handling and transport of gonococcal cultures to the reference laboratories.
Gonococcal isolates collected as part of EGASP will be tested for antimicrobial susceptibility on a monthly basis or more frequently.
Gonococcal isolates will be tested for antimicrobial susceptibility to cefixime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin using the Etest method. Reference laboratories will participate in standardized internal quality control (QC) procedures and external quality assurance (EQA) procedures.
All isolates collected through EGASP will be frozen and stored at NHDV and HCMC HDV laboratories for long-term storage.
A database containing the antimicrobial susceptibility data and demographic, behavioural, and clinical data will be maintained at NHDV and HCMC HDV Laboratories.
Data will be collated and reported to the Ministry of Health monthly.

Output/s:

A report on the results of the pilot including patient demographic, behavioural, clinical and antimicrobial susceptibility
A database containing the demographic, behavioural, and clinical and antimicrobial susceptibility

Task 3: Overseeing, managing the implementation and collated data from both sites and submit to WHO

Activities:

Organize regular meeting and conduct site visit to ensure the pilot is strictly implement as per protocol
Collated data from both sites and submit to WHO.

4. Specific requirements

The applicant should submit the following documents:

Technical proposal including Background, Methods, Expected results and Timelines
Financial proposal
Documents to prove the technical capacity to undertake the proposed activities
CVs of project manager, coordinator, lab manager, data manager and other team members

1. Project manager: Own university degree in medicine and specialized in STIs or infectious diseases. Having at least 15 years of work experiences in management of STIs programme or national AMR programme

2. Project coordinator: Own university degree in medicine and specialized in STIs. Having at least 10 years of work experiences in clinical management of STIs and doing research in the area of STIs especially in gonorrhea antibiotic resistance.

3. Lab manager: Own university degree in medicine or biology. Having at least 10 years of work experiences in laboratory of STIs and at least 2 years in management of laboratory for STIs.

4. Data manager: Own university degree in medicine or biology or public health. Specialized in laboratory. Having at least 5 years of work experiences in laboratory for STIs and proficiency gonorrhea testing including gonorrhea culture and antibiotic resistance testing. Have been trained in using WHO.NET

Team members requirement:

Clinical staff: Own university degree in the areas of medicine. Having at least 2 years in clinical management of STIs
Lab staff: Own university/college degree in the areas of medicine or medical technology. Having at least 5 years working in the laboratory for STIs
Project nurse: Having at least 3 years working in the hospital for Dermatology and venerology
Having one administrative staff for project implementation.

+ Language requirements: Project manager and coordinator are proficient in both Vietnamese and English

+ Competencies: Not required

5. Place of assignment: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

6. Medical clearance: N/A

7. Travel: N/A

8. Budget

Detailed budget breakdown to be submitted.

Please take note of the following when submitting application: The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Those who are interested can submit the following documents:

Technical proposal including Background, Methods, Expected results and Timelines
Financial proposal
Documents to prove the technical capacity to undertake the proposed activities
CVs of project manager, coordinator, lab manager, data manager and other team members

Please indicate post title and vacancy notice # and should be addressed to:

Administrative Officer
World Health Organization, UN Building
304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam
OR wpvnmapplicants@who.int
Before/by 27 April 2023
For further information on this TOR, please contact: wpvnmdc@who.int

The WHO is calling for two (02) potential consultant teams to support the EGASP activities for financial year 2023 (one in Hanoi and one in HCMC). And, there will be expansion of EGASP to the 3rd and 4th sites, new sites to cover other parts of Viet Nam.

Tags: WHO