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Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in South Sudan with an estimated incidence of 227 cases per 100,000 population according to WHO’s global TB report of 2020. Despite the increase in coverage of TB diagnostic and treatment services over the past several years, only 133 health facilities are currently providing TB services out of over 1,200 primary health care facilities in the country. Out of the estimated 25,000 new and relapse TB cases expected for notification in 2019, only 16,323 patients were identified and put on treatment by the TB programme indicating a TB treatment coverage of only 65%. The capacity for identification of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is even much lower: only 61 MDR-TB patients were diagnosed and put on treatment in 2019 (although the number has almost doubled in the next year to 116) out of WHO’s estimated MDR-TB incident cases of 830. In addition to the systemic problems within the health system affecting access to TB services by the general population, the lack of engagement of the community, weak infrastructure, widespread insecurity has adversely affected the accessibility of TB services by South Sudanese.
UNDP is a key partner to the GFATM and is the UN Agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient (PR) of GFTAM HIV, TB, Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH), and COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) grants in South Sudan. As Principal Recipient for GFATM, assisting the country to meet its main goals in reducing mortality and morbidity from TB, strengthening the health systems and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP South Sudan Country Office is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the GFTAM grants and as well as the procurement of health and non-health products. UNDP provides capacity development services to relevant national institutions, Sub-Recipients, and implementing partners in all areas of implementation. Currently, UNDP, as PR, bears the full responsibility for the operational and financial management of the New Funding Model 3 (NFM3) grant that comprises of HIV/AIDS, RSSH, Tuberculosis, and C19RM.
UNDP South Sudan is seeking the services of an International Consultant to provide robust technical support in building the capacity of the staff of the National TB, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTLBP) of the Ministry of Health and the state TB/HIV coordinators of the 10 states of the country.
The purpose of the consultancy is to build the capacity of the NTLBP Officers, State TB Coordinators on the areas of TB Programme management, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and other emerging programmatic and policy issues related to TB programme including mitigation strategies in the context of te COVID-19 pandemic
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