Health Module Developer & Training Specialist - Standardized Course Content VPD Identification, Reporting and Surveillance System

Project: Gabay Bakuna Consequential Immunization Geographies Initiative Project (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s [CDC] Strengthening Immunization Program Implementation in Sub-National Consequential Geographies - Philippines)

Rationale: In 2020, an estimated 17 million children worldwide were completely unvaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in 10 countries where 65% of these children live. The Philippines was included among the 10 countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children for the said diseases, or what are called “zero-dose” children. Hence, the United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (US CDC) has included the Philippines as one of the countries in Asia for a project on consequential geographies to address zero-dose children, measles, polio, and vaccination during public health emergencies.

The “Gabay Bakuna” Consequential Immunization Geographies Initiative Project aims to improve public health surveillance capacity at the national and subnational levels; two (2) strategies are included. These are: 1) supporting and continuously improving comprehensive VPD surveillance systems, and 2) preparing for and responding to VPD outbreaks in targeted subnational areas. Aside from the above, as part of the project’s regional capacity strengthening and technical assistance to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and the DOH Center for Health Development IV-A Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (DOH CHD IV-A RESU), the development of a standardized course content for clinicians and other hospital-based health professionals involved in patient care and infection control was identified as a priority. A standardized course content to build the capacity of Hospital Epidemiology and
Surveillance Unit (HESU) officers and other key clinical staff in selected DOH-retained and private hospitals in Region IV-A CALABARZON to improve vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) identification and reporting is a crucial undertaking to strengthen public health surveillance and response in the region. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of healthcare professionals to effectively detect, report, and respond to VPD cases, ultimately contributing to better disease control and prevention outcomes.

The Project is looking for a “Health Module Developer and Training Specialist” who will be contracted as a short-term consultant. He/She will develop the modules for a standardized course content (SCC) and modules for hospital-based clinicians and nursing staff on VPD identification and reporting processes. He/she will provide technical expertise in the field testing and validation, advanced implementation in selected LGUs, and roll-out of the developed modules, including the training of trainers and hospital disease surveillance officers on the use of standardized course content modules. The Health Module Developer and Training Specialist will participate in meetings of the Jhpiego Immunization Team, US CDC, Gabay Bakuna partners, and the concerned offices of the DOH and the DOH CHD IV-A, and provide technical recommendations in the finalization of the tools, workshop or training course designs, course evaluations, and participants pre- and post-training assessments, and strengthening learning and development initiatives of the DOH.

Responsibilities:

1. Work closely with the Immunization Technical Advisor, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer, Project Coordinator, other Jhpiego Immunization Portfolio staff, and other Gabay Bakuna Project consultants involved that require coordination or collaboration, to ensure the quality of implementation of the Project;
2. Work closely with the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau (DOH EB) and the Department of Health Center for Health Development IV-A CALABARZON Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (DOH CHD IV-A RESU), with logistical assistance and support from the Jhpiego Immunization Team;
3. Develop and design modules and tools on standardized curriculum and course content on VPD surveillance and processes for clinicians, other clinical and nursing staff of DOH-retained hospitals and private hospitals (which will be applicable for LGU hospitals);
4. Develop a learning and development matrix for learner participants and other target audiences or populations on learning activities, knowledge, skills, and practices, assessments, and learning competencies and outcomes;
5. Co-develop, in partnership with the Jhpiego Immunization Team, an implementation plan for the activities of the implementation of the standardized course content, training of HESU disease surveillance officers or coordinators, and roll-out orientation of VPD surveillance and reporting processes for hospital-based clinicians, residents-in-training, nursing staff, other hospital managers, and involved personnel;
6. Analyze data of entry-level competencies, baseline knowledge, skills, and practices of hospital-based participant learners of the standardized course content of orientation on VPD surveillance and reporting process;
7. Compare and analyze data of post-intervention level competencies, baseline knowledge, skills, and practices of hospital-based participant learners of the standardized course content of orientation on VPD surveillance and reporting process from their baseline levels;
8. Prepare technical recommendations for policy and operational guidelines to be used by the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units (LGUs);
9. Prepare summaries and documentation of meeting agreements, technical inputs of DOH partners and stakeholders for the development of the modules and tools; and,
10. Prepare and submit activity and progress reports, and the final report

• A graduate with a degree in any of the following disciplines: Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Midwifery, Medical Technology, Public Health, Psychology/Behavioral Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Elementary or Secondary Education (Major in Science or Health Education), or Doctor of Medicine, or another health-related course;
• Has completed units or a Master’s (MA, MS, Master of Education) degree (preferred) in Health Professions / Health Professional Education (MHPEd) or Learning Design, Innovation and Technology, or equivalent;
• Equivalent professional experience in any of the following sectors: health, health education, academe, or other development sector, either at the national, subnational, or local government level, is also preferred;
• Minimum of at least two to three (2-3) years of experience teaching in a higher education institute for undergraduate or graduate degree health-related (or social science) courses (e.g., at least as an instructor, associate professor or equivalent);
• Minimum of at least one (1) year of experience working with teams of development agencies, international or local non-government, or non-profit organizations involved in capacity building, module development, or instructional design for health human resources or related professions;
• Good understanding and knowledge of public health, Philippine health system, immunization, including vaccine-preventable diseases, disease surveillance, reporting of notifiable diseases, outbreak responses, etc., will be an advantage but not a requirement;
• Good understanding of project management and the relationship of capacity-building activity components
• Work experience in developing training or capacity building modules for health workers, including facilitating or conducting a training of trainers (TOT) course, and roll-out adoption or implementation of developed modules;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to work under pressure, priorities, schedule, and balance workloads in the face of conflicting and uneven demands;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software applications, e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Should be able to identify and solve problems that may arise during administrative and logistical processes;
• Should have excellent attention to detail to ensure that all administrative and logistical tasks are complied accurately and efficiently;
• Should be able to manage multiple tasks at once and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance;
• Experience in report writing and good communication skills; and,
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Filipino.
• Amenable to travel within Metro Manila and Region IV-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) as needed.