The project

Laboratories are vital to healthcare systems, directly impacting the quality of health services and enabling prompt, accurate decision-making. They are essential for disease surveillance and outbreak response. Nigeria faces challenges of inequitable access to quality diagnostics, limiting timely diagnosis and increasing healthcare costs. The Medical Laboratory Services Division (MLSD) of the Federal Ministry of Health coordinates laboratory services and implements policies to strengthen Nigeria’s laboratory system. The National Medical Laboratory Services Policy (NMLSP) addresses management challenges by establishing organizational structures in federal and state health ministries. Nigeria’s healthcare system operates across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, with laboratory support often fragmented and poorly coordinated across disease programs. Supported by the Global Fund, MLSD has made strides in strengthening laboratory systems, but issues remain in governance, coordination, funding, infrastructure, and quality control. To address these, MLSD is implementing a Diagnostic Network Optimization (DNO) initiative under the Global Fund GC7 grant. A Service Provider is needed to offer technical assistance to FMOH-MLSD for integrating laboratory systems across disease programs and achieving DNO goals. 

Objectives of the project


To conduct a national integrated diagnostic network assessment (DNA) 
To support the integrated Diagnostic Network Optimization analysis and modelling 
To support the implementation of the optimized integrated diagnostic network to improve access, capacity, and quality of the country's diagnostic services. 
To support the development and wide dissemination of the National Guidelines on Laboratory Equipment Management 
To support the implementation of activities to address human resource gaps 


Designation/Position: DNA/DNO Support Consultant

Location: Nationwide

Roles and Responsibilities


Conduct desk review on DNA & DNO
Lead the development of the DNA/DNO protocol, tools and guides
Lead the development of the DNA/DNO quality management approach & tools
Support pilot of the protocol/tools & improvement of the same where appropriate
Facilitate DNO scenario modelling workshop
Facilitate workshop for the development of the framework for the implementation of DNO modelling output


Deliverables


Submit all activity reports
Submit DNA/DNO protocol & tools
Submit report of DNO scenario modeling workshop
Submit agreed framework for the implementation of the DNO output
Submit training report 


Requirements/qualifications


Medical Laboratory scientist
Extensive experience in the Nigeria lab sector 
Experience in DNA
Experience in DNO is an advantage
Experience in scenario modeling within or outside lab sector is an advantage