Hypertension Management Subject Matter Expert, Rwanda Primary Health Care Project

Consultancy Contract

Background

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL - https://resolvetosavelives.org/about/) partners with governments on public health programs focusing on epidemic prevention and non-communicable diseases, health policy, and health care delivery reform. RTSL has partnered with more than 30 countries to implement Primary Health Care (PHC) programs for the treatment of hypertension and diabetes and works in seven countries to improve the safety and effectiveness of PHC systems in detecting and responding to epidemic threats.

At the request of the Government of Rwanda, RTSL is launching a PHC project to demonstrate a high performing paperless PHC pilot. The theory of change being that accurate, up-to-date digital health data paired with streamlined care practices can drive rapid improvement, enabling sustained progress in the delivery of robust primary health care services. The project is a collaboration between clinical, digital and PHC experts.

Position Summary

We seek a Hypertension Management Subject Matter Expert (SME - consultant) to support the project in an important area of focus within Primary Healthcare – Cardiovascular Disease management. Our goal is to support the Government of Rwanda to achieve paperless primary health care that integrates health services while strengthening the efficacy of the PHC system overall.

This position will be seconded to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre with line management by a senior member of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre NCD team and administrative management by the RTSL Project Director, Rwanda PHC project. The incumbent will receive technical guidance and support from the hypertension team within Resolve to Save Lives. This will initially be a 9-month consultancy, with opportunity to extend contingent on funding.

Responsibilities:

Hypertension

• Support the updating of national guidelines, including adaptation of a simple protocol for hypertension and diabetes treatment
• Review and update relevant task sharing guidance to include task sharing for hypertension care, including initiation, titration, and refilling of medications
• Support the development or update of a national roll out for hypertension care, including development of package components (technical training tools and guidance, monitoring and evaluation indicators and systems, guidance and tools for site monitoring and mentorship) and develop plans for training roll out and regular program review at national level or with the relevant technical working groups
• Support the development and/or adaptation of information systems to support hypertension care down to the primary care level
• Support the quantification working group to procure key medicines and diagnostics related to the hypertension program to improve the cost-efficiency of the program and reduce stockouts
• Support the national MoH to establish a functioning hypertension technical advisory group
• Assist in identifying relevant grant funding opportunities to support the implementation of HTN prevention and control program in Rwanda  
• Support costing and budgeting for the program
• Develop policy briefs on HTN and other NCDs risk factors
• Assess gaps in decentralized delivery of hypertension services using an implementation science framework and work towards a manuscript  

General

• Support updating the National NCD Policy
• Additional work to support public health measures to reduce cardiovascular death or prevent epidemics, as assigned

Deliverables:

Hypertension

• Support setting up a national technical advisory group on cardiovascular health or hypertension
• Draft or approved national hypertension treatment protocol/guidelines
• Updated task shifting / sharing guidance for hypertension management
• Health worker training materials, job aids, and other tools for hypertension management
• High-quality grant proposal(s) for hypertension program funding submitted to key donors
• Scientific manuscript on decentralized delivery of hypertension services in Rwanda drafted

General

• Monthly progress reports on advancing hypertension treatment

Experience and qualifications:

• Medical doctor/Nurse/Public Health Physician with Master’s degree in public health or related field
• At least 5 years of relevant experience working in public health program implementation in Rwanda or similar contexts
• Experience drafting strategy and guidelines related to public health
• Ability to communicate technical knowledge and expertise in both policy and operational environments
• Experience in policy development and implementation is desirable
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English
• Demonstrated ability to work across sectoral boundaries and in diverse, multicultural settings

Please submit your resume and a cover letter and include reference to your consultant fee (daily rate) here before 22nd March 2024 6PM.

RTSL accepts and reviews applications on an ongoing basis. We are grateful for your interest in our work and for your application. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications typically received, we can only reply to shortlisted candidates.