Background

 

Tuberculosis Data, Impact Assessment, and Communications Hub (TB DIAH) is a five-year Associate Award funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). TB DIAH is implemented by the Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc (JSI). JSI, the hiring organization, is a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world over the last forty years.  

 

TB DIAH has worked in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2021, strengthening the TB surveillance system and improving the capacity of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), other departments in the Ministry of Health (MoH) and TB implementing partners (IPs) to collect, report, analyze, and use tuberculosis (TB) data. The project’s activities improve the accessibility and availability of tuberculosis (TB) data and data resources, on the ground as well as on-line, to facilitate deepened analysis and use of TB information for decision-making. 

 

In 2023, the Kyrgyz Republic became one of USAID’s Global Health Security (GHS) intensive focus countries, and TB DIAH’s scope of work expanded to include strengthening the country’s disease surveillance system to improve its ability to handle public health emergencies through the implementation of a multisectoral, One Health, and whole society approach to disease preparedness and health security.

 

In July 2023, the country conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) to assess its capacities to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health risks and emergencies. The JEE findings are being used to identify the critical gaps in the human and animal health systems, in order to prioritize opportunities for enhanced preparedness and response. The findings are being used to develop the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), and serve as the basis for all GHS partners’ technical assistance plans, including TB DIAH’s which are focused on improving two JEE priority technical areas – Surveillance and Human Resources. TB DIAH will do this by working with and supporting the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance (DDPSSES) to strengthen the Kyrgyz Republic’s disease surveillance system and strengthening the capacity of central and subnational DDPSSES staff to analyze, use and disseminate surveillance and M&E data.

 

Objectives

• Lead the planning and implementation of an assessment of the epidemiological disease surveillance information system, identify key areas for improvement and provide specific recommendations, including digital health strategies and solutions, to strengthen the integrated disease surveillance system.
• Develop tools, resources and training content to strengthen the capacity of DDPSSES to use data, information systems and information products to support evidence-based decision-making.

Tasks

More specifically, the Digital Health Specialist will be responsible for the following activities and tasks:

 

• Collaborate and consult with DDPSSES and other GHS partners to refine and finalize the epidemiological surveillance information system assessment objectives and research questions. 
• Collect and curate technical documents, assessment reports, and other relevant information to inform preparations for the assessment. 
• Contribute to the development/customization of the epidemiological surveillance information system assessment tool. 
• Lead the planning and implementation of the epidemiological disease surveillance information system assessment to evaluate the information system in terms of user accessibility, functionality, efficiency, barriers to use, compatibility to other systems, and data quality at the central and subnational levels to identify operational areas for improvement.
• Draft a technical assessment report on the surveillance information system with findings and recommendations and share the results with GHS stakeholders during a dissemination meeting.
• Help develop an M&E and surveillance skills capacity assessment on-line tool to assess DDPSSES skills and capacity related to integrated disease surveillance and analysis and use of routine and aggregate health surveillance data. 
• Develop content on the use of IT to support M&E and surveillance functions for a ToT training curriculum for DDPSSES. 
• Work in close coordination and collaboration with DDPSSES and other GHS partners.
• Support other TB DIAH activities as requested.

Qualifications

 

• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in one of the following disciplines is required: Information Systems, Health Informatics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Epidemiology, Public Health, Biostatistics or a related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage

• A minimum of five years of experience managing health information systems or integrated disease surveillance information systems; demonstrable experience in the digitization of health-related information systems; in-depth knowledge of electronic medical records as well as aggregate data systems used to collect, manage, report and use health data
• Expertise in the use of database management systems (e.g., MS-Access, PostgreSQL or MySQL)
• Expertise in data exchange, in particular an understanding of standards and application methodologies relevant to a health information exchange such as OpenHIE and FHIR

• Experience in successfully training, coaching, and mentoring government staff in use of integrated disease surveillance information systems, HMIS, or other relevant systems
• Previous work experience with the Ministry of Health at central, regional, and sub-regional levels in low and middle income countries is desirable
• Ability to engage key stakeholders, manage expectations, and plan and coordinate tasks and deliverables
• Experience implementing USG programs or interventions is highly desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work closely with a multidisciplinary team as well as independently, when needed, to fulfill and manage day to day activities
• Ability to take initiative to produce expected results
• Fluency in Russian, and working level proficiency or above in English
• Availability to travel within the Kyrgyz Republic
• Sensitivity toward cultural diversity and an ability to work with stakeholders from various regions of the country
• Based in Kyrgyzstan

 

 

*Interested candidates should submit a recent CV and cover letter to tb_diah@jsi.com with the subject line “Digital Health Specialist – Kyrgyz Republic”. All materials need to be submitted in English.

 

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Date Issued: October 3, 2023 12:00 am
Due Date: October 31, 2023 11:59 pm EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)

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