National Consultant to provide technical support to establish sentinel surveillance for Invasive Bacterial Diseases

1. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support for establishing sentinel surveillance for invasive bacterial diseases in selected hospitals in Jordan. The consultant will facilitate training, monitor surveillance implementation, and ensure timely reporting of data.

2. Background

As part of strengthening immunization and disease surveillance systems, WHO is supporting the establishment of sentinel surveillance for invasive bacterial diseases in four hospitals. This initiative aims to enhance institutional capacities for sustained immunization programs and broader primary healthcare delivery.

The establishment of sentinel surveillance for invasive bacterial diseases (IBDs) in Jordan is a critical step toward strengthening the country’s public health infrastructure. IBDs, including pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae infections, cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among children. While Jordan has introduced vaccines like PCV, robust surveillance is needed to monitor vaccine impact, detect emerging strains, and guide immunization policies. Currently, gaps exist in standardized case detection, laboratory confirmation, and data reporting, limiting the ability to assess disease burden accurately. This WHO-supported initiative will pilot sentinel surveillance in four hospitals, enhancing real-time data collection, healthcare worker training, and laboratory capacity. The project aligns with national and global health goals, ensuring evidence-based decision-making for vaccine programs and outbreak preparedness while supporting Jordan’s compliance with international health regulations.

Overall Project Objective:

Establish high quality surveillance systems for invasive bacterial diseases which will provide reliable data on vaccine preventable diseases for policy makers.

Specific Objective:

1.Collect epidemiological data on invasive bacterial diseases and rotavirus infections.

2.Measure vaccine impact for diseases like Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal infections.

3.Characterize disease strains to monitor changes and guide vaccine policies.

4.Strengthen laboratory capacity for accurate and timely IBD diagnosis.

5.Establish mechanisms for real-time or near-real-time reporting of IBD cases for outbreak detection.

6.Monitor post-vaccination trends in invasive bacterial diseases (e.g., pneumococcal serotype shifts).

7.Enhance integration of IBD surveillance data with national immunization monitoring systems.

8.Conduct periodic data review meetings with stakeholders for policy adjustments.

3. Work to be performed

Output 1: Establish Invasive Bacterial Diseases Sentinel Surveillance in Hospitals.

Objective: To facilitate setting up a functional sentinel surveillance system for invasive bacterial diseases (e.g. PCV) in four selected hospitals, ensuring standardized data collection, reporting, and analysis.

Deliverable1.1: Establish functional sentinel surveillance system in four hospitals (documented protocols, reporting tools).

Deliverable 1.2: Develop a system for generating Quarterly surveillance reports (epidemiological summaries, key findings, recommendations).

Deliverable 1.3: Submit monthly Progress reports on implementation challenges and corrective actions.

Key Activities:

1.Site Selection & Preparation:

·Assess four sentinel hospitals

·Conduct baseline assessments of existing surveillance mechanisms, lab capabilities, and data flow.

·Develop case definitions, reporting protocols, and data collection tools (aligned with WHO guidelines).

2.System Implementation:

·Establish case detection and reporting mechanisms (e.g., integration with hospital records, lab systems).

·Train hospital staff on case identification, sample collection, and reporting procedures.

·Set up data management processes (e.g., electronic or paper-based reporting templates).

3.Monitoring & Reporting:

·Ensure timely submission of case-based data (weekly/monthly).

·Assist in generating quarterly surveillance reports (trends, case demographics, lab-confirmed isolates) including indicators.

·Conduct routine data quality audits and provide feedback to hospitals.

Output 2: Train Healthcare Workers on Sentinel Surveillance

Objective: To build the capacity of 25 healthcare professionals (clinicians, lab staff, surveillance officers) on invasive bacterial disease surveillance, including case detection, lab confirmation, and reporting.

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct training for Health Care Workers on IBD surveillance and its components

Deliverable 2.2: Draft Training report (list of participants, pre/post-test results, evaluation feedback).

Deliverable 2.3: Develop Training materials (slides, case studies, SOPs).

Deliverable 2.4: Document capacity gaps and develop recommendations for follow-up.

Key Activities:

1.Training Curriculum Development:

·Adapt WHO-standardized training materials on bacterial meningitis/IBD surveillance.

·Include modules on:

A.Case definitions & clinical diagnosis (e.g., meningitis, sepsis).

B.Sample collection & transport (CSF, blood cultures).

C.Data recording & reporting (case forms, electronic systems).

D.Outbreak detection & response.

E.Reporting and recording including indicators

2.Training Workshops: Conduct 2–3 training sessions (mix of classroom and hands-on lab training).

3.Post-Training Support: Provide mentorship and supervision to trainees for 1–2 months post-training and organize refresher sessions based on gaps identified during monitoring.

Expected Outcomes - By the end of the consultancy:

·A well-functioning IBD surveillance is established

·Four hospitals are actively reporting high-quality surveillance data.

·25 healthcare workers proficient in case detection, lab testing, and reporting.

·Evidence-based reports are generated to inform vaccine impact assessment (e.g., post-PCV introduction).

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology, or related field.

Desirable: Master’s degree in Epidemiology or Public Health.

Experience:

Essential:

·At least 5 years of experience in health surveillance systems, capacity building, and epidemiology.

·Field experience in communicable disease surveillance, including hands-on involvement in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Desirable:

·Experience working with UN agencies, WHO, or other international health organizations.

·Proven track record in establishing or strengthening sentinel surveillance systems, particularly for invasive bacterial diseases.

·Experience in training healthcare workers and developing surveillance protocols or guidelines.

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

·Strong analytical and organizational skills.

·Proficiency in data management, descriptive epidemiology, and surveillance systems.

·Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.

·Ability to work under pressure in complex technical and cultural environments.

·Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Languages and level required:
Expert level in English and Arabic.

5. Location

Amman – Jordan (On-site).

6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)

60 working days

Start date:1 July 2025

End date: 31 December 2025

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

8. Travel

The Consultant is not expected to travel, but will may need to conduct field visits within the country.

Additional Information

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