Local agencies, organizations, or institutions to implement capacity building activities on rabies disease prevention and control in Viet Nam

Background
Viet Nam reported 82 human rabies deaths in 2023, an increase of 12 deaths compared to 2022. From the beginning of 2024 until 4 July 2024, the country reported 53 human rabies deaths, an increase of 25% compared to the same period in 2023 (40 deaths). Out of these, 15 deaths were reported from seven southern provinces, including Ben Tre (4 deaths), Tay Ninh (4 deaths), Long An (3 deaths), as well as Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Dong Nai and Kien Giang each having reported one death.
The southern region of Viet Nam consists of 20 provinces. Before 2018, this region reported less than 10 human rabies deaths each year, except in 2015, 11 deaths were reported. However, since 2018 to date, the number of human deaths due to rabies has been increased sharply. In the five-year period from 2018 to2022, a total of 124 human deaths were reported in the region, a2.73-fold increase compared to the 47 deaths reported in the previous period from 2013 to 2017. At provincial level, Ben Tre province reported the highest number of deaths, with 24 deaths in the period from 2018 to 2022 - an increase of 24 times compared to the one death reported in the period from 2013 to 2017.
To support Ben Tre province as well as the southern region of Viet Nam in achieving the goal of “Zero by 30”, the WCO Viet Nam is inviting applications from local institutions, agencies, or organizations to conduct a review of rabies prevention and control in Ben Tre province. This review will aim to identify all barriers and gaps in these efforts. The findings will inform and guide appropriate actions to decrease human rabies deaths in Ben Tre province and the southern region of Viet Nam.
 

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date: 28 August 2024
End date: 19 December 2024

Work to be performed - Description of the tasks
Under the guidance of the WCO Viet Nam’s responsible officer, the APW holder (including the team lead and his/her team) is expected to undertake the following tasks:
• Review the status, gaps, and challenges of the rabies surveillance, reporting, response, as well as risk communication activities of the animal and human health sectors at provincial, district, and communal levels (hereafter three levels).
• Review the coordination and collaboration activities in zoonotic diseases, especially rabies prevention, surveillance, response, and risk communication between animal health and human health at the three levels.
• Explore the availability, accessibility, and affordability of human rabies vaccine, the number of dog/cat bites treated with Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) at the three levels. Additionally, assess the number of rabies vaccination sites, including private vaccination sites, at each level.
• Review the availability, accessibility, and affordability of dog vaccines at three levels. Examine the mechanisms of dog and cat management and vaccination. Collect data on the number of vaccinated dogs and cats, the dog and cat vaccination coverage, and any difficulties and challenges management and vaccination these animals.
• Explore the community’s perspective on dog and cat management, vaccination practices, and the process of seeking PEP after dog or cate bites.
• Prepare a report on the status, gaps, and challenges related to the rabies surveillance, reporting, response, and risk communication activities. Include an assessment of human and animal rabies vaccination efforts, coordination, and collaboration activities between the animal and human health sector at three levels, and community’s perspective on dog vaccination and seeking PEP after dog or cat bites.
• Conduct a meeting to disseminate and validate the review results, and to discuss actions and develop a work plan to address the identified gaps and challenges.
• The APW holder, including the team lead and his/ her team members, will regularly report both verbally and in writing to WCO Viet Nam’s responsible officer, who serves as the prime WHO focal point, on the progress of the review.
• Develop a final report at the end of the APW contract.

For more detailed information about the assignment, please refer to the attached Terms of Reference and Bid Reference. 

A prospective bidder requiring clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than than 5 August 2024. Email for submissions of all queries: wpvnmhe@who.int (use Bid reference in subject line).

The bidder shall submit, in writing, the complete proposal to WHO, no later than 12 August 2024 at 17:00 hours Hanoi time (“the closing date”), by email at the following email address: wpvnmhe@who.int (use Bid reference in subject line).