VN015 - National consultants to provide technical support to conduct field assessment of implementation of national notifiable diseases reporting via Circular 54 and event-based surveillance

Background:

To meet the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) to detect, alert, report and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and public health events, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends member countries to consider developing an Early Warning and Response (EWAR) system and, at the same time, providing guidance on the implementation of two mutually complementary types of surveillance: indicator-based surveillance (IBS) and event-based surveillance (EBS). The implementation of these two surveillance systems are expected to improve the capacity of disease monitoring, early detection and effective response to possible disease outbreaks. 

In Viet Nam, the national notifiable disease reporting is governed by the Circular No. 54/2015/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health, which came into force from 1st July 2016 and has been implemented via an online reporting system (eCDS). This system is considered a backbone of the IBS system in country over the years. Event-based surveillance has initially been established in Viet Nam in 2014 with a main focus on media reporting. It was not until the period of 2016-2018 when major efforts were made to further standardize its procedures via pilot implementation, both in community and in health care facilities of selected provinces, with support from WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) and PATH. The results of such pilot implementation had informed the official issuance of the National Guidelines for Event-based Surveillance by the MOH on 28 March 2018 (Decision No. 2018/QD-BYT).  

While great efforts have been rendered by the whole health system and positive outcomes have shown in implementing these surveillance systems during the past five years for Circular 54 eCDS and three years for EBS, various issues and obstacles have also revealed. Some of those included inadequate attention from leaders, managers and responsible staff throughout the health system; lack of awareness on the importance of monitoring and reporting infectious diseases from those who are directly involved in notification of surveillance data, so as completeness, accuracy and timeliness of the data reported. The operational functions of eCDS reporting software have also encountered various limitations thus require continued improvement.

Considering the above, the General Department of Preventive Medicine (GDPM), in collaboration with  four Regional Institutes of Pasteur/ Hygiene and Epidemiology (RIs) and with support from WHO, US CDC and PATH, is conducting an assessment of IBS/EBS surveillance implementation, period 2016 – 2021, with the aim to identify strengths, issues and gaps in the system operation and to  inform measures for future improvement. 

Work to be performed

Under the guidance of the WHO Viet Nam country office responsible officer and in collaboration with GDPM/MoH, RIs, US CDC and PATH, the consultant and his/her assistant are expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Take an active role in the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the overall IBS/EBS implementation assessment to provide direction, technical advice and support to implementing partners in whole process of field assessment, data analysis and reporting.
• Design data analysis (both quantitative and qualitative components) and reporting strategy based on the objectives of the assessment.
• Guide RIs to conduct data analysis and prepare preliminary assessment report for the data under their respective region.
• Support GDPM in consolidating and performing data analysis and reporting based on the assessment results from 18 selected cities/ provinces submitted by respective RIs.  
• Support the preparation and presentation on key findings of the assessment to the MOH leaders and relevant stakeholders.
• Develop a final consultancy report at the end of the contract.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 15 April 2021

End date:   31 October 2021

Address for applications:
Administrative Officer
World Health Organization
UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Or by email at: wpvnmapplicants@who.int