Post Title:
Level of consultancy:
Duration of contract:
Office location:
Closing date:
International Consultant on Strengthening Pediatrics AIDS
Treatment in Tajikistan as a Technical Assistance to the Ministry of
Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, on Consultancy Contract
International Professional (P4) level
Sep.2012 (10 w/ds)
Dushanbe
27 August 2012
BACKGROUND:
As of December 31, 2011, the Republican AIDS Centre reported the total number of HIVconfirmed cases among children to be 108. Out of them, 59 children were infected through
vertical transmission, two were infected as a result of blood transfusion and 47 children had
undetermined ways of transmission, which is likely to be attributed to medical interventions
(unconfirmed). More than 108 newborns born from HIV-positive mothers are still under
epidemiologic observation and are still awaiting the final confirmation of their HIV status at
the age of 18 months. As of today, only 22 HIV-positive children are covered by antiretroviral therapy (ART). Half of the children who receive ART face side effects and various
complications of the therapy.
Paediatric AIDS is a central part of the HIV/AIDS prevention programme within the
framework of the 2010-2015 UNICEF-GoT Country Programme of Cooperation. The capacity
of medical specialists working in the field of Paediatric AIDS (PA) is still low and this
seriously affects the access and the effectiveness of programme delivery and the quality of
services provided to HIV-positive children.
In December 2010, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health to build the capacity of 14
pediatric infectious disease specialists (25 per cent of the need) and the staff of the Republican
AIDS center on infant HIV epidemiology, early diagnosis and HIV clinical stages. However,
this basic 5-day training course on ART to children with HIV/AIDS covered only the first
module of updated WHO clinical protocol1. It was not sufficient to establish a strong
knowledge and, most importantly, clinical skills on ART treatment, opportunistic infection
prevention and care. To further enhance the knowledge and clinical skills on Paediatric
AIDS, in August 2011, UNICEF supported a study tour of 7 trained specialists to the hospital
in Kiev which manages cases of Paediatric AIDS. Currently, as per decision of the Ministry,
only six out of 14 trained pediatricians provide ART and treatment of opportunistic infections
to HIV-positive children. The remaining 8 specialists are tasked to conduct theoretical training
activities to paediatricians.
OBJECTIVES:
The proposed consultancy aims to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to
continue to build their knowledge and skills of health specialists (Paediatricians, Infectious
Disease Specialists and staff of AIDS centes) in Paediatric ART treatment in accordance to
the updated WHO Protocol 11: Modules 2-3 on treatment of HIV cases and management of
opportunistic infections (Module 4).
1
Protocol 11 - HIV treatment and care for children, Clinical Protocol for WHO European Region, WHO, 2012.
KEY ASSIGNMENTS:

To conduct a 5-day training session on Paediatic ART with practical skills
development in accordance with the updated WHO clinical protocol 11 (2012);

As a part of the training, to assist the participants to review the patients’ cards prepared
by health specialists during consultation of children receiving or in need of correction
of ART schemes in May-July 2012.

Provide appropriate recommendations to improve the administration of ART schemes
for selected children living with HIV/AIDS and with ART side-effects cases.

To conduct visits to clinics in Dushanbe, Rudaki, Vakhdat, Gissar, Tursun-zade to
provide consultations and recommendations to caregivers of HIV-positive children
with complicated cases of HIV clinical stages.
DELIVERABLES:
 Agenda for training session, training materials, power point presentations in Russian;

Conduct a 5 –day training for 15 paediatric infectious diseases and AIDS specialists on
administration of Paediatric ART and treatment of opportunistic infections in children
as per WHO Protocol 11 (2012);

Draft of the updated national Paediatric AIDS clinical protocols adapted to Tajikistan’s
context in Russian based on the WHO Protocol 11 (2012);

Recommendations to improve the administration of ART schemes and care to HIV
positive children in visited clinics;

Final report should include the training report, participants evaluation, findings and
progress made by clinicians during the last year of practice in ART, description of
selected cases with ART side–effects, recommendations for next steps be undertaken
by the MoH and needed improvement in PA programme).
QUALIFICATIONS:

Advanced University Degree in Medicine and/or Public Health;

Proven academic and clinical experience in ART management for children living with
HIV/AIDS and prevention of opportunistic infection.

Extensive experience in conducting trainings in related area.

Excellent communication and facilitation skills

Fluency in Russian is essential.

Advanced computer skills
PROPOSED PERIOD AND DURATION OF CONSULTANCY:
Ten (10) working days in September 2012 in Tajikistan.
Timing for the consultancy is negotiable.
CONSULTANCY FEE:
Lump Sum fee at the rate of P4 level will be paid upon satisfactory completion of all
assignments.
LOCATION AND TRAVEL:
The consultant will be stationed in Dushanbe with travel to Rudaki, Vakhdat, Gissar, Tursun-zade
districts of RRS. S/he will work under supervision of the Chief of Health Nutrition of UNICEF
Dushanbe in close coordination with the UNICEF Young People’s Health and Development (YPHD)
and HIV Officer and the TWG of the MoH.
UNICEF Tajikistan will cover travel-related costs, including return travel of the consultant by
the most direct route in economy class from home country to Tajikistan and within Tajikistan.
Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be paid as per UN rules.
HEALTH STATEMENT & CERTIFICATE
Health Statement and certificate of Good Health must be received prior to signing the
contract.
Application:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a Letter of interest including expected fee per
w/d for the consultancy work, CV and P-11 form to recruitmentdushanbe@unicef.org by
the deadline of 27 August 2012.