Consultant (Portable Digital X-ray, Truenat, and 3HR) at KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria - 3 Openings

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria is a local non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the deadliest infectious disease in the Nigeria. KNCV Nigeria is a local center of excellence for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national context. Our multidisciplinary team of passionate professionals covers a broad range of expertise such as programmatic TB control, research, clinical management, social science, education, digital health, and project management.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant (Portable Digital X-ray, Truenat, and 3HR)

Vacancy Number: C017
Locations: Anambra, Imo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ogun (Selected facilities across the 18 TB LON states)
Slots: 3
Reports to: the Director Laboratory Services.
Timeframe: Short term assignment from (February 10th 2023 - July 9th 2023)

Job Summary

• KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria is seeking to engage consultants to provide technical support for the research studies on portable digital X-ray with AI, Truenat and 3HR TB preventive Therapy in selected health facilities and states in Nigeria. 

USAID Nigeria TB LON Regions 1 and 2 Project 

• The TB LON Project is funded by USAID Nigeria and focuses on locally generated solutions to provide TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and notification, while addressing stigma and discrimination.
• The TB LON regions 1 and 2 project is implemented by KNCV TB foundation Nigeria and is expanding the provision and increased access to TB services within the public and none public health sectors in Nigeria.
• The project is targeted at increasing the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases that are detected, treated and notified to  437,895 within the five year grant implementation period 2020 to 2025 and is being implemented across 14 states in Nigeria; Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Rivers State.
• The project’s four intermediate results are as follows:
  • Improved access to high-quality, person-centered TB, DR-TB, and TB/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV) services;
  • Strengthened TB service delivery platforms;
  • Reduced TB disease transmission and progression and
  • Accelerated TB innovations with improved impact on program implementation
• KNCV Nigeria is working with a consortium of partners- two sub recipients- CCCRN and KNCV International and six strategic service package providers- Instrat Global Services, Initiative for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (PCD), Jana Health Foundation, Diadem Consult, Public Health Concerns Ltd and TB Network.
• Towards meeting the project set targets, KNCV Nigeria and partners adopted a mixed model of community and facility based, health systems strengthening strategies and digital solutions to find TB cases in a Roll in, Roll on and Roll out staged approach. Roll in is in year 1 which is the planning stage, collaborations and capacity building, Roll on is the saturation stage in Year 2, 3 and 4 while Roll out in year 5 is the transitioning stage.

New tools TA Rationale:

• On November 29, 2021, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) donated commodities to the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health’s National TB and Leprosy Control Program  (NTBLCP) as part of a broader “New Tools Project.” Nigeria is among the seven countries receiving the package of screening, diagnostic, and treatment tools. The others include Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, and Vietnam.
• The aim was to assist NTBLCP find more missing TB cases and help Nigeria sustain an upward trajectory for TB case-finding in line with global targets.
• The donations included 38 Truenat machines for molecular diagnosis of TB and drug-resistant TB and 10 high-tech portable digital x-ray (PDX) systems with computer-aided detection software for use in hard-to-reach areas.  The donation also included enough medicines to prevent TB progression.
• The PDX is state-of-the-art equipment that is highly sensitive for TB screening. The Truenat machine allows for rapid molecular testing at lower-level health facilities with power challenges. A 3-month shorter regimen for improved uptake of TB preventive Therapy was instituted using 3HR medicines.  These new tools were implemented in selected states in the country by the USAID-funded TB LON projects. 

Purpose of the Assignment

• KNCV Nigeria aims to determine the effectiveness of the new tools for screening, evaluation and prevention of TB across implementing states.

Research Topics:

• Impact of the use of the ultra-portable digital x-ray with CAD4TB for active case finding for tuberculosis in Nigeria
• Knowledge and barriers to TB preventive treatment among contacts of TB patients and health care workers in Nigeria
• Acceptance and completion rates of 3HR TPT among contacts of TB patients; patient and HCWs perspectives
• Determining the local calibration of CAD software threshold and other parameters for pulmonary TB detection in Nigeria
• Facilitators and barriers to uptake of child-friendly 3HR FDC for TPT in Nigeria
• Frequency distribution and determinants of unsuccessful Truenat tests in Nigeria
• Impact of Truenat assays on diagnosis of tuberculosis at peripheral facilities in Nigeria
• Operational feasibility and ease-of-use of Truenat tests in Nigeria
• Operational feasibility of the ultraportable digital x-ray with CAD for community active case finding in Nigeria; HCWs and patients perspectives

Specific TOR
The consultants (3) will be required to work within the study period and shall provide the following:

• Support the planning and participate actively in the Training of study staff
• Facilitate and Participate in the process of routine supportive supervision, Monitoring and mentoring to states and facilities during the period of study.
• Provide weekly and monthly update on the activities on the field implementation routinely
• Prepare monthly and quarterly activity Narrative report including pictorial evidence of stakeholders’ engagement, and all activities.
• Institute quality data check
• Prepare slide decks for dissemination of study findings to a wider audience.
• Develop manuscripts.
• Provide a final report of the study

Who Are We Looking For?

• MB.BS, MPH / M.Sc, PhD or corresponding Degree in Epidemiology, Health Economics, Statistics, or in International / Global Health.
• Knowledge of and experience with quantitative and qualitative epidemiological research techniques as well as health policy and management.
• Skills in applying and using software for data collection & data validation.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English.

Application Closing Date
5th February, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit a detailed Proposal, and proof of prior work experience (which must be indicated on your proposal) to: [email protected] using the Job Position and Vacancy Number as the subject of the email.

Note

• The start date for submission is Monday 30th of January 2023.
• We only consider applications that are received through the KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria recruitment email.