Technical Support to Implement the National Leprosy Survey in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking offers for technical support to Implement the National Leprosy Survey in collaboration with MOH Malaysia and WHO Malaysia

BACKGROUND 

Malaysia has successfully eliminated leprosy since 1994. The control and preventive measures are still actively practiced at clinical and administrative level in relevant districts with a focus on identifying pockets of endemicity. In addition, efforts are being strengthened to reduce new leprosy cases particularly amongst children in Malaysia. These efforts are incorporated into Malaysia’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Leprosy 2021-2030 which targets for zero leprosy cases by 2030. The NSP was developed in accordance with the Global Leprosy Strategy (GLS) 2021‒2030 which has been contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 3 (healthy lives and wellbeing), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (partnerships). It focuses on the commitments of the SDGs and every engagement that are pivotal in order to reach the unreached as persons affected by leprosy are consistently among the most left behind due to the combination of visible disability and stigma.

With the current global economy constrain due to COVID-19 pandemic, the speed to decelerate disease transmission by early case detection is significantly delayed. The total number of leprosy cases from 2018-2022 is approximately 750 and there are still stagnated number of newly diagnosed cases notified amongst children as well as cases with Grade 2 Deformity (G2D) amongst all new cases, of which both indicate late detection. These two indicators are very likely to hamper the target to reduce leprosy transmission among the high-risk group. Among the high-risk group in Malaysia are the indigenous natives of the Peninsular namely Orang Asli and the Penan tribe of Sarawak. Control activities prove to be challenging as their areas are only accessible by logging road if not by river and most healthcare workers are deterred by the exhausting and hazardous journey. Often those detected, are lost to follow up and remains being infectious among close family and community.

Another challenge dealing with the indigenous population is the set of belief and low literacy level that diminishes the current control and prevention effort. Leprosy is seen as a curse and/or hereditary disease to some prominent tribes. The strong adherence to the belief is the root cause of stigma; be it perceived or enact stigma of those affected by the disease or those who live with them. Furthermore, those affected with leprosy often suffers from internalised shame and they tend to shy away and avoid public. Delaying or defaulting treatment is the common behaviour of patients who has perceived stigma. Ministry of Health has calculated that the rate of defaulter is between 2% – 5% and time taken between onset of illness to diagnosis is between 3 to 5 years. The target set for new cases with G2D has not been achieved as yearly it is between 0.02 – 0.05 cases for every 100,000 population, and the completed treatment rate hardly reach 60% yearly.

It is believed that stigma and discrimination may be influencing patient’s treatment-seeking behaviour and treatment compliance directly impacting the success of  the Leprosy Control Programme. As there is no national baseline survey done in Malaysia to monitor the stigma and discrimination faced by patients living with leprosy, a structured and programmatic monitoring of stigma needs to be conducted to add evidence in improving the nation’s control and prevention programme.

WORK TO BE PERFORMED 

• Output 1: Approved inception report (within 4 weeks of start date)
• Output 2: Study implementation
• Output 3: Technical reports and financial statements
• Output 4: Dissemination of information

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROVIDER

The successful bidder is expected to demonstrate experience and list relevant projects as follows:

Mandatory experience:

• • Staff involved with Bachelor’s degree or higher, in public health, medical science, social science humanities or a related area (background in TB/Leprosy research and studies is an added advantage
• • Staff involved with at least 5 years experience in public health research, program and project implementation related to communicable diseases AND with at least 3 years experience in engaging with hard-to-reach population

Desirable experience:

• • Staff involved with Master’s degree or higher in public health, medical science, social science, humanities or related area with background in project management
• • Fluent of local dialects of hard-to-reach population

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 27 December 2022

• • Company Profile {for institutional applications} 
• • Technical proposal indicating solution, methodology and timelines, in addition to the below annexes: 
  • o   Annex 2: Confidentiality Undertaking
  • o   Annex 3: Vendor Information Form
• • Financial proposal

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2022-11/MYS/187993 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 7 December 2022