Job ID

2023-5603

Location

LS-Maseru

Category

Consultancy

Employment Status

Consultant

Lesotho is a mountainous southern African country landlocked by the Republic of South Africa. It has 10 districts divided into 3 regions: Northern, Southern, and Central. The country has a population of about 2.1 million and a life expectancy of 51.9 years. Health services in Lesotho are delivered at three levels, namely primary, secondary, and tertiary. There are about 372 health facilities in Lesotho, consisting of referral hospitals, specialized hospitals, district hospitals, filter clinics, health centers, private surgeries, nurse clinics, and pharmacies. The Government of Lesotho administers about 42% of the facilities, 27.9% by private practitioners, 28.6% by the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL), and 1.4% by the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS).

The Ministry of Health has been overseeing a partially effective emergency referral system with support from different partners. Touch Foundation, through the M-Mama project, focuses on obstetric, peripartum, and postnatal emergencies for both women and their newborn babies, linking clients from the community to health facilities, especially hospitals. Riders for Health manages other emergency medical referrals on behalf of the MOH, transporting patients across all levels of the healthcare system. The Lesotho Flying Doctors respond to emergencies in the remote mountainous areas of the country that are not accessible by road. Unfortunately, these referral systems all function in silos. To ensure high-quality patient transport, there is a need to integrate these systems to build a more robust and centralized emergency medical referral system to better respond to existing emergencies in the country.

These gaps were further exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is now making deliberate efforts to establish a well-coordinated EMRS to respond to all emergencies in the country. The Lesotho MOH, with funding from the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) and through the Jhpiego-implemented RISE project, conducted a baseline assessment on EMRS. Key gaps in the referral system identified were the absence of an EMRS policy, guidelines, and SOPs. The next step for the country is to establish a national policy for emergency medical care and referrals to guide the implementation of EMRS in Lesotho. A draft of a policy document and guidelines were developed, which now require finalization, validation, and approval.

Timeline:

The consultant is expected to complete the project within 30 days from the commencement date.

Reporting and Communication:

The consultant will report to the MOH Director of Clinical Services and RISE PD administratively. Regular communication and progress updates will be required throughout the activity.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be expected to:

• Review existing policies that support an effective EMRS across different government ministries and include these in the policy document
• Lead the finalization of guidelines related to emergency medical care and referrals.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, emergency medical services agencies, government agencies, and community representatives, to gather input and insights during a stakeholder meeting/workshop.
• To finalize a detailed policy framework that covers the following key areas:
• Ensure the policy is aligned with international best practices and standards in emergency medical care.
• Incorporate considerations for disaster preparedness and response.
• Finalize a comprehensive policy document with clear guidelines, procedures, and recommended practices.

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• A final policy from the draft document that incorporates feedback and revisions.
• A final emergency medical referral system guideline document, SOPs, tools, job aides

The ideal consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health/health policy or a related field
• A strong background in healthcare policy development, particularly in emergency medical care and referrals.
• Proven experience in conducting needs assessments and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Familiarity with international best practices and standards in emergency medical care.
• Consultant MUST have experience developing EMRS policies , preferably in Southern Africa.
• Demonstrated ability to draft policy documents.

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org 

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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