Background
Currently, the world is experiencing the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (n-SARSCoV-2) pandemic, commonly known as COVID-19, which was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019, as a viral pneumonia outbreak of unknown aetiology in the Hubei Province of China[1]. Globally, as of 12 November 2021, there have been over 251,788, 320 confirmed cases of COVID 19, including more than 5,077,900 deaths. COVID-19 spreads across Africa, and as of 12 November 2021 data indicates with close to 6,182,165 people infected and deaths exceeding 151,560. Ethiopia, one of the countries in east Africa, reported its first case of COVID-19 on 13 March 2020 and since then, the number of new infections 368,100 and 6,580 deaths has risen to over respectively[2].
Without effective treatment and vaccine, the world is left with a single option thus strict adherence to public health preventive measures: regular handwashing using soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, social distancing (maintaining a distance of at least two meters), not touching the face, covering the nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing, staying at home if feeling unwell, wearing of face masks, and prompt seeking of medical care when one has suggestive symptoms[3]. These measures have been popularized and supported by the WHO, governments, and Ministries of Health globally.
In Ethiopia, several communication channels are used to reach the population with preventive messages about COVID-19, including Ministry of Health directives and guidelines. This is aimed at improving people’s knowledge about COVID-19, changing their attitudes towards adopting public health preventive measures, and improving their adherence to practicing public health preventive measures.
Currently, COVID-19 vaccine has been made available; and Ethiopia has started administering it and officially lunching on March 13, 202. Since then 4,774,947 vaccine doses of different type was administered; and only 2,467,181 persons were fully vaccinated, 2,307,766 persons vaccinated partially (1st dose of AstraZeneca and Sino-pharm), and the total number of health workers who vaccinated fully are only 225,389. The vaccination coverage reported in the country is very low and has huge disparity by regions. The vaccination rollout is facing many challenges that affects the rollout of the vaccine including the barriers on the hesitance of the vaccine, misinformation and disinformation about the vaccine, poor planning, coordination, and logistic arrangement with especially to the last mile delivery. Myths and conspiracy theories on vaccinations have been spreading and can easily be accepted by the developing world. This may cause people to be reluctant and maleficent towards vaccination.
Since the start of the pandemic, Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia has made a series of efforts to support the federal, regional and zonal governments to respond to the pandemic. Our objective -to reduce the impacts of the virus on communities. We have disseminated key messages of prevention through town criers, banners, and radio; trained and deployed community-based volunteers (CBV) for COVID-19 outreach; trained health extension workers (HEW) and CBVs on contact tracing and linkages to health services; disseminated IPC guidelines to health facilities (HF); provided PPE materials to communities and HFs; and secured water points for handwashing in the community and HFs.
Back ground of the project
Considering limited people’s knowledge about COVID-19, attitudes and practices of public health preventive measures (KAP); and COVID 19 vaccine Amref Health Africa has started to implement a project entitle “Prevention COVID 19 transmission through Improving Vaccine Coverage in Ethiopia” from September 2021 to January 2022. The project has been funded through Packard foundation; and it targets the communities, health workers, health extension workers and health development armies.
This project will be implemented in Addis Ababa (all sub-cities), Amhara region (Baridar, Debertabor, Debreberehan, Kombolcha, Dessie and Woledia), Oromia region (Adama, Bishoftu, Zeya and Shasemene), and Sidama region (Hawassa and Yirgalem). The governmental partner for this intervention will be the national Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, and cities/towns health offices.
The general objective of the project is to improve the vaccine coverage through health communication and community engagement, better planning and coordination in Ethiopian. Specific Objectives are:
1. To improve COVID-19 vaccine up take communication system in the country
2. To improve the capacity of the community health workers (HEW and HDA)
3. To enhance community engagement and institutional support for COVID-19 prevention and motivating vaccine uptake are enhanced
4. To strengthened Community and Facility-based Surveillance for COVID vaccine
To improved internal and partner planning and coordination mechanisms[1] WHO, Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report-1, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2020.
[3] WHO, Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected, in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 72, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2020.
· A renewed professional license for consultancy firm with similar tasks
· Researchers/Team members with at least a Master’s Degree in public health, epidemiology, demography or related field; extensive skills and experience in applying qualitative and quantitative data management and researches/evaluations; and Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English. Team members CV, and level of effort to this assignment should be clearly mentioned.
· Firm should have similar work in the recent past will be a key requirement; and references of contact addresses (type of work done, email, phone number, ….) of organizations or its representative of the organization should be mentioned; and evidences/certificates should be annexed with the technical proposal.
· Minimum of first degree for both quantitative and qualitative data collectors with excellent speaking and listing skill of local Languages.