Malteser International is the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta. With over 100 projects annually in some 25 countries throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas, we provide emergency relief after disasters and support recovery efforts with a focus on sustainable development.

Summary

The overall aim of the programme is to save lives, protect vulnerable populations including the refugees and host communities and enable them to survive in dignity. Cross-cutting issues such as gender, peace, environment, inclusion, and protection are also highly factored throughout the implementation. In Turkana County, MI has a strategic collaboration with Turkana County Government and local partners (Diocese of Lodwar/Kakuma Mission Hospital (DOL/KMH) and AIC Health Ministries).

The three project outcome areas include: –

• Target population with reduction of excess Morbidity & Mortality and improvement of physical, mental, and social well-being (through access to preventive and curative health care & epidemic preparedness).
• Target population has increased and dignified access to safe and inclusive essential water and sanitation facilities, aiming at achieving SPHERE or local standards, while they take action to protect themselves against diseases related to poor personal and community hygiene practices.
• Target population with improved and dignified access to life-saving nutrition services, are able to meet basic nutritional needs and protect their crop- and livestock-related livelihoods.

Objective of the Assignment

• Malteser International is seeking to recruit an external consultant to conduct a baseline assessment on the quality of healthcare services for KMH; the major level four referral health facility serving the population of Turkana West including the refugees and host communities. The assessment must be in line with the Kenya Quality Model for Health (KQMH) checklist for assessing quality of healthcare. Specifically, the study aims to establish evidence-based baseline parameters, that are effective, efficient, affordable, and acceptable as a guide to the operationalization of KMH.

Methodology

• The consulting firm shall conduct a Rapid Health Facility Assessment (R-HFA) using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) method. The survey will consist of thee major sections comprising structure, processes, and results as detailed below:

Structure:

• Leadership
• Human Resources
• Policies, Standards and Guidelines
• Facility and Infrastructure
• Supplies Management
• Equipment
• Transport
• Referral Systems
• Health Records and Health Management Information Systems
• Financial Management

Processes:

• Outpatient services
• Patient-centered care
• Infection prevention and control
• Outpatient services
• Accidents and emergencies
• Surgical emergencies
• Anesthesia
• Safe delivery
• Neonatal care
• Laboratory services
• Pharmacy services
• Radiology services

Results: measured against set key performance indicators.

Specific Tasks

The consultant is required to:

• Review among others, the Kenya Health Policy 2014-2030, Kenya Quality Model (KQM), Kenya Essential Package of Health (KEPH), World Health Organization Health Systems Building in the Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (KHSSP) 2014-2018.
• Prepare an inception report in line with the KQMH checklist for assessing health facilities for guidance on the required quality of services.
• Adapt the KOMH data collection tools for level four health facilities and adjust the data collection tools as necessary.
• Train Research assistants in data collection techniques, focusing on non-intrusive techniques of conducting nonintrusive observation of clinical processes.
• Manage implementation and reporting of the survey and assure quality of data at all sites within KMH.

Expected Results

• An inception report and data collection tools
• Detailed report on unit costs of integrated health services with evidence-based guidance on approach of implementation.
• A copy of the final datasets in MS Excel, complete with the outputs of the analysis
• Segregated country/county specific data sets per gender/age, environmental and local conflict analyses.

Timeframe and deliverable

• The assessment is expected to commence on 25th October 2023, and should be concluded no later than 10th November 2023. The detailed Gantt chart will be developed as agreed upon with Malteser International.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Malteser International shall provide the relevant project documents for review, mobilize project beneficiaries and other stakeholders to participate in the assessment, provide all the logistical support for the assignment and avail the necessary technical oversight, quality assurance and control as necessary. Whereas the consultant shallsign a non-disclosure agreement prior to commencement of this assignment and deliver the assignment deliverables as specified in the ToR.

Requirements

Key Competence

• MI has envisaged that the assignment will be conducted by a firm consisting of a multi-disciplinary team of at least 2 members with the requisite combination of skills, expertise, and experience to carry out the baseline survey. The assignment should be led by a Team Leader grounded in quantitative research design using LQAS method to conduct Rapid Health Facility Assessment.

Specific requirements for the Team Leader include:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in public health, (bio) statistics or related fields.
• Understanding of the Kenya Quality Model for Health and related polices is mandatory.
• At least five years of experience in conducting R-HFA using LQAS methodology.
• Good understanding of the Kenya Health System is an added advantage.
• Experience in managing multi-sites research teams.
• Evidence of strong facilitative/training skills in LQAS methodology

In addition, the consultancy team should demonstrate;

• Evidence of having carried similar work before, especially in Kenya or within the East African Region particularly in the health sector.
• At least one of the team members must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in managing data generated from LQAS surveys, especially from R-HFA (developing data screens, and analyzing)
• Experience in training or capacity building for R-HFA
• Good writing skills