Consultant Health Economist at the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH)

Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) is one of the leading Nigerian Non-Governmental Organizations implementing programs for improving Reproductive Health and Family planning (RH/FP), Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria etc. We offer professional opportunities for career advancement, good working environment and competitive remuneration.

We seek applications from qualified persons for the position below in the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP):

Job Title: Consultant Health Economist

Ref #: CHE/TB-CCS/FMOH-2017
Location: Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.
Duration of assignment: Three months.

Job Description

• National TB Research: Determination of proportion of Tuberculosis patients experiencing catastrophic costs due to TB treatment.
• The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) and World Health Organization is seeking for eligible candidates to fill the under listed position. With funding support from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and USAID/Challenge TB project, the organization is embarking on a nation-wide survey to determine the proportion of Tuberculosis patients who are experiencing catastrophic costs during TB management in Nigeria.
• Tuberculosis has long been associated with health inequality and most especially affecting disproportionately the lower socio-economic class. However, with the increasing cost of health care and economic recession, it is not clear how much households spend and to what extent the financial burden affect the health seeking behavior, and outcome of care regarding TB disease burden. To this end, the NTBLCP is set to embark on a national survey to determine the proportion of TB patients and their households who experience catastrophic cost due to Tuberculosis. This catastrophic cost refers to total costs (indirect and direct combined) exceeding a given threshold (e.g. 20%) of the household’s annual income, and also as ‘dissaving’ (such as loans taken, property or livestock sale) incurred by patients to face health costs associated with the TB disease.
• The objectives of the survey are (i) to document the magnitude and main drivers of patient costs in order to guide policies on cost mitigation for the purpose of reducing financial barriers to access and adherence, (ii) to determine the baseline percentage of diagnosed TB patients treated in the network of facilities under the NTBLCP and their households, who incur direct and indirect costs beyond a defined threshold of their annual income, and (iii) to assess cost effectiveness of Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in public and private facilities in Nigeria.
• The coverage of the study was designed to be nationally representative and it is anticipated that the outcome of this study will be useful for policy decision and programme intervention.

Responsibilities
The Consultant Health Economist will be responsible for:

• Finalization of survey tools for this survey
• Responsible for the conduct and implementation of the economic evaluation component of the larger survey
• Be actively involved in the design and implementation of the survey
• Prepares training manual and survey materials
• Trains team leaders and interviewers
• Supervises the work of data collection by team leaders
• S/he must ensure that survey activities especially the economic evaluation component of the survey are implemented in accordance with approved survey protocol and that no breach of ethics is allowed during the exercise.
• Work in collaboration with the Survey Coordinator to ensure detailed analysis and report of the survey is done and delivered within the stipulated time.
• Make presentations to relevant stakeholders at various stages and milestones achievement of the survey
• S/he will ensure timely preparation and submission of the survey report
• Support the preparation of publishable article in peer reviewed journal

Qualification Required
The consultant Health Economist must have the following skills and qualifications:

• Advance Degree in Health Economics (Master's/PhD) or related field in addition to basic graduate degrees of relevance to public health.
• Previous experience in the successful conduct of economic evaluation and cost analysis in health in Nigeria and/or elsewhere in the developing countries.
• Possess strong analytical skill and ability to use relevant software for economic analysis such as TreeAge etc.
• Evidence of technical capacity to lead a research team
• Good knowledge and experience of the Nigerian health system and Tuberculosis control programme.
• Must possess good leadership, communication and interpersonal relations and team spirit.
• Must be fluent in English language and communicate effectively. Fluency in another Nigerian language will be an advantage.

Application Closing Date
19th June, 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their detailed Curriculum Vitae and application letters to:
Head, Monitoring & Evaluation,
Association for Reproductive and Family Health,
Floor 1, Block C, Millennium Builder’s Plaza,
Plot 251, Herbert Macaulay Way,