Additional Component Of The Project For Capacity Development Of ICU Using Telemedicine Under COVID-19 Pandemic

Indonesia  

 Japan International Coordination Agency 

October 2022 - April 2024

Position

Telemedicine Model Planning and Operation 2

Type of Service

SDGs

Although healthcare indicators have shown gradual improvement in Indonesia, the under-five mortality rate, number of hospital beds and medical personnel per capita have not reached WHO standards. Furthermore, the disparity in healthcare between urban and rural areas is evident. Therefore, it is an urgent matter to fairly distribute medical resources and services to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) challenge. The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has formulated a health strategy plan called RENSTRA 2020-2024 as part of the e-health strategy (2017). This healthcare strategy aims to expand the number of telemedicine-capable facilities from 67 in 2020 to 335 by 2024, by strengthening telemedicine and expanding the infrastructure for digitizing healthcare service.

In light of this situation, Japan International Cooperation Agency has collaborated with counter-partner hospitals, University of Indonesia Hospital and Hasanuddin University Hospital to contribute to strengthening telemedicine technology in the field of ICU.  This project is aiming to enhance telemedicine for diagnostic support and knowledge and skill sharing in not only the ICU, but also in ophthalmology and obstetrics. The project is expected to reduce health disparities between urban and rural areas. 
PSD is implementing technical cooperation with Hasanuddin University Hospital as the counterpart to establish a remote medical mechanism that efficiently connects clinics in rural areas with university hospitals through telemedicine devices in ophthalmology and obstetrics.

Health System Governance and Management 

Eswatini 

The World Bank 

 Nov. 2021-June 2023

Position

Design and Formulation of Facility-level Service Profiles
STC (Short term consultant) 

SDGs

Eswatini’s health challenges include an ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, a large HIV epidemic, persistently high maternal and child mortality, a large and unaddressed burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and malnutrition. Shortcomings in the health system foundations – particularly in health financing, governance and management and service delivery - have led to poor quality of care (QoC), a significant barrier to universal health coverage (UHC) attainment.
“Building an efficient, equitable, client-centered health system for accelerated attainment of the highest standard of health for all people in Eswatini” is the policy objective of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP II 2019–23). To support it, the World Bank launched the Health System Strengthening for Human Capital Development in Eswatini Project (HSS4HCDP) in 2020 and is undertaking advisory service and analytics (ASA) to provide options and recommendations to inform policy and strategies on health financing, health system governance and management, and service delivery innovation through the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development (PHRD) Fund.
PSD Japan is taking a part of ASA in development of Health Service Mapping through reviewing key documentations, consulting with stakeholders such as Government officials, service providers, development partners and so on, facilitating workshops working with other Bank members and a national consultant.

The Project for Promotion of Nepal National Building Code Compliance for Safer Building Construction

Nepal

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

June 2021 - May 2025

Position

Building Information Management

Type of Service

SDGs

Ministry of Urban Development implemented “the Project for Assessment of Earthquake Disaster Risk for the Kathmandu Valley,” which revealed more than one million evacuees would be forcefully evacuated due to tremendous number of building damages if a central southern Nepal earthquake would hit. Earthquake resilient buildings are to mitigate the risk and the seismic design of buildings under Nepal National Building Code has been revised and enhanced the regulatory requirements for a new building. On the other hand, the trend of new building structure after the 2015 earthquake has shifted from masonry construction to reinforced concrete (RC) structure, under which trend a construction frequently got different from its design drawings due to lack of awareness and knowledge regarding legal compliance among the building owners and contractors. There are identified issues in the design and building inspection capacity of municipalities, building supervision capacity of architectural engineers, building quality control capacity of contractors, and awareness-raising of related parties.

Considering the above situation, the project aims to establish a mechanism of building code compliance for safer building construction against earthquakes and develops a model building construction working procedure to disseminate toward municipalities and stakeholders through trainings.

Project

Title

Project for community reconstruction support in the region affected by West Japan’s flooding disaster

Japan

Peace Winds Japan

October 2020 – June 2021

Position

Project Coordinator

Type of

Service

SDGs

Successive heavy downpours hit western Japan in July 2018, causing collapse of eight embankments that led to devastating floods resulting in the loss of 51 lives in Mabi-town, Okayama Prefecture. Immediately after the disaster, Japanese NGO “Peace Winds Japan (PWJ)” provided emergency response, such as rescue activities, material supplies, and assisting for evacuation shelter management in Mabi-town, one of the most affected areas of the disaster. After shifting from emergency period to recovery and reconstruction period, PSD Inc. concluded  a secondment contract with the PWJ, and dispatched one employee to the PWJ Soja/Mabi Office from October 2020 to June 2021. 
The purpose of this project was to contribute to strengthen the capacity of local disaster prevention organizations located in disaster-prone regions through a) providing  basic emergency supply kits to local communities, b) promoting knowledge exchange trips between disaster affected areas, and c) conducting advisory support for disaster-prevention events organized by local communities.

*Please refer to the PWJ website for more details https://peace-winds.org/activity/area/westjapan-floods

Project

Title

Strength regional disaster prevention in disaster-prone area/Strength the capability for disaster prevention and mitigation in the West Japan

Japan

Peace Winds Japan

October　2020 - June 2021

Position

Project Coordinator

Type of

Service

SDGs

Japan is one of the most disaster-prone nations due to its particular environmental circumstances, such as geography, geology, and climate. With such conditions, the government’s Earthquake Research Committee (2021) has estimated that Nankai Trough, as the epicenter, will experience magnitude 8-9 class earthquakes with a probability of 70-80% in the next 30 years. Under the circumstances, Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) has implemented various projects to strengthen disaster mitigation and prevention capacities in disaster-prone regions under subsidies from USAID. Given this situation, PSD Inc. concluded  a secondment contract with the PWJ, and dispatched one employee to the PWJ Soja/Mabi Office from October 2020 to June 2021. 
The purpose of this project was to contribute to improve the capacity of disaster prevention and mitigation of local communities and local governments in disaster-prone regions through a) conducting advisory support for disaster-prevention events, such as evacuation drills, organized by local communities and or municipalities, b) promoting knowledge exchange trips between local communities as well as between government officials in disaster affected areas, c) providing several trainings to medical workers, and d) supporting the draft/edit of brochures and  booklets about the disaster preparedness as well disaster response.

Data Collection Survey on Healthcare ICT for Supporting
COVID-19 Countermeasures in the World (QCBS)

World 

ITEC (JICA)

Mar 2021-Mar 2022

Position

Healthcare Policy

Type of Service

SDGs

Strengthening the Technical Capacity Development of the Local Government Service (Records Management and Fixed Assets Management) The 2nd Phase

Ghana

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

July 2021 - February 2022

Position

Advisor (Local Government Capacity Development) 

Type of Service

SDGs

The government system in Ghana has central government institutions and its local government, which structures regions and districts (Metropolitan, Municipal and District). The Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) under the Office of the President has once developed operational manuals both of records management and fixed assets, however, they are not implemented in local government institutions. Many institutions do not completely store important records and update fixed assets registers periodically. 

Strengthening the capacity of local government effecting the administrative decentralization is an urgent issue, especially the development of the implementation model of records management and fixed assets management including operational manual revision. The project develops a unified implementation model of records management and fixed assets management countrywide and supports the capacity building of local government officers in a way that the manual is revised and disseminated.

Project for Improving Continuum of Care for Mothers and Children through the Introduction of Combined MCH Record Book

Ghana

Ghana Health Service (GHS)

April, 2018 to April, 2021

Position

Project Coordinator

SDGs

In Ghana, the improvement of the health status of mothers and children is considered a high priority. Despite great efforts made to address this issue, the neonatal, and under-five and maternal mortality ratios remain high at 29 per thousand live births, 60 per thousand live births (the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (2014 GDHS)), and 319 per 100,000 live births (the Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)), respectively.

In response to these issues, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) developed an Integrated Maternal and Child Health Record Book (MCH RB) with technical and financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The main purpose is to fill the gaps of maternal and child health services with better coverage of continuum of care (CoC). Ghana has been utilizing two separate home-based record books for mothers and children over the last few decades. However, there are various challenges to promote CoC as there is a crack between delivery/post-natal care and childcare.

This project is expected to contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improve maternal and child health by facilitating high- quality CoC for mothers and children throughout Ghana. It will also strengthen individualized health and nutrition counselling for mothers and children, and develop educational materials which will help health workers provide such services.

Technical Advice on UHC monitoring and evaluation

Kenya

World Bank

December 2018 – July 2020

Position

Technical Advisor (Monitoring and Evaluation)

SDGs

・The Government of Kenya (GoK) is committed towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2022. In his inaugural speech, the President of the Republic of Kenya announced UHC as a key pillar that the government will deliver during his second term. The renewed political commitment presents a unique opportunity for Kenya to rapidly progress towards UHC.

・The GoK has introduced several initiatives to fast-track progress towards UHC, especially among the poor and vulnerable, but they have been fragmented and coverage remains low. These initiatives include removal of user fees in levels II and III facilities, free maternity programme in all public facilities and selected private facilities, health insurance subsidies for the poor (HISP) and health insurance for the elderly and people living with severe disability.

・In December 2018, the GoK launched the UHC pilot in four counties. Under the pilot, all health services in level IV and V facilities were declared free of charge. To compensate counties for revenue loss arising from user fees removal, the GoK committed to provide pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supplies through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and allocate money for health systems strengthening and operations and maintenance. The government plans to roll out UHC in the remaining 43 counties effective July 2019.

As the country fast tracks progress to UHC, it is important that rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are put in place. Without these, the country will not know what they have achieved, how much they still need to do, and/or whether they are getting value for money and accountability. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have developed a framework to monitor progress towards UHC.

This consultancy supports the Ministry of Health (MoH) to monitor and evaluate progress to UHC in four pilot counties, highlight key challenges Kenya is facing and how these can be addressed in a timely manner. The selected consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Health and a team of Kenyan consultants contracted by the World Bank to conduct a series of M&E studies including household survey and process evaluations.

Scope of work

The consultant is expected to do the following:
・Drawing from the Japan experience, provide technical assistant and

advisory role to UHC department, MoH to finalize the M&E framework for the four counties, drawing from the broader M&E framework already developed

・Working closely with the MoH and the Bank, support UHC pilot counties to finalize and implement their M&E frameworks

Industrial Promotion Project

Palestinian Authority

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 

March 2019 – March 2022 

Position

Team Leader / Industrial Park Development 

SDGs

The Government of Japan has been promoting the regional development through Four Parties’ Consultative Meeting among Israel, Japan, Jordan and Palestine and supporting the economic independence of Palestine as well as mutual trust building since the initiative for “Peace and Prosperity Corridor” was proposed in 2006. JICA has assisted capacity development of PIEFZA (Palestinian Industrial Estates and Free Zones Authority) since 2007, which is responsible Jericho Agro-Industrial Park (JAIP) as the flagship project of the initiative. Up to the end of December 2018, 32 lease agreements were signed, and 13 companies already started operation at Phase I area (11.5 ha). Based on this progress, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Kohno declared in September 2017 that Japan would upgrade “Peace and Prosperity Corridor” initiative.

This project assists to 1) review the legal framework for effective development of industrial park, 2) revise Business Plan of the developer of JAIP and implement the revised plan and 3) provide sustainable Business Advisory Service (BAS) to Micro, Small and Medium industries, so that investment in JAIP would increase and economic development lead by the private sector would be realized.

Two-Step Loan (TSL) Component of Foreign Direct Investment Promotion Project

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Bank

October 2018 – June 2021

Position

Project Advisor / Financial Specialist

SDGs

The Government of Bangladesh has identified the diversification of manufacturing industries and the strengthening of export-oriented industries as important issues. This Project aims to improve the investment environment in Bangladesh by improving access to financing opportunities and promoting PPP projects to develop infrastructure including economic zone development. It is consistent with the priority assistance policy of the Government of Japan and JICA. On December 14, 2015, JICA and the Government of Bangladesh signed the loan agreement.

Bangladesh Bank (BB), as implementation agency for TSL portion, retains the consultant for 1) Capacity development of implementation unit of BB for project management, 2) Capacity development of Participating Financial Institutions (FFIs), 3) Promotion of the Project and 4) Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project

Verification Survey with the Private Sector for Disseminating
Japanese Technologies for Electric Assist Bicycle (EAB) in Myanmar

Myanmar

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 

December 2018 – July 2020 

Position

Chief Adviser

SDGs

Foreign direct investment in Myanmar is mainly focused in the low value adding industries, such as garment, because development of supporting industries manufacturing metal and/or plastic parts is not matured. Thus, industrial clustering and sophistication is indispensable for further growth. Proposed EAB may provide the opportunity to gain the technology for develop and process the parts for motor bicycle and automobile with combustion engine. It may also provide the opportunity to study the basic knowledge and technology of electric and electronic parts for future development of electric tricycle and/ or electric four-wheeled vehicles, so that an industrial clustering and sophistication could be achieved. As manufacturing EAB needs labor intensive process, it is believed that international competitiveness can be realized.

In order to contribute to develop and upgrade supporting industries for transportation machinery in Myanmar, effectiveness of EAB is to be proved and methodology and issues for making EAB popular is to be clarified

Marketing of medical check-up and smartphone application for behaviour change to control NCDs

The Republic of Kenya

Africa Scan Inc.

March – April 2018

Position

Technical Adviser

SDGs

Through kiosk activities, the Africa Scan, has promoted lifestyle changes in order to control obesity since 2015. In 2017, the Feasibility Survey for Increasing the Uptake of Health Check-ups in Kenya, funded by JICA, was initiated to formulate ODA activity under the JICA PPP (Public-Private Partnership) program. At the same time, Africa Scan was seeking the opportunity to expand its marketing of behaviour change applications in the private sector. Given Kenya’s epidemiological transition to NCDs, it is highly important to promote behaviour change and encourage the practice of regular medical check-ups to control NCDs.

Data Collection Survey for Universal Health Coverage Promotion Project

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Japan International Cooperation Agency

August 2017 – February 2018

Position

Team Leader / Regional Health

SDGs

Photo

In Bangladesh, the predominant burden of disease has recently shifted from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, referral systems and efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle have not been functioning well in controlling NCDs. At the same time, Bangladesh has experienced a rapid urbanization over the past decade, and the lower income populations in these growing urban areas have not received sufficient quality health services. Based on this situation, the Government of Bangladesh and the Japan International Cooperation Agency agreed to conduct a data collection survey to identify and formulate appropriate JICA activities aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Through discussions with officials of the Government of Bangladesh, development partners, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders, the survey found that it would be important for the control of NCDs to strengthen the referral function from the community level to the secondary level of service providers, and that the primary level of urban health services should be strengthened in order to improve urban health.

Project for improving maternal and child health services through
implementation of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook

Republic of Angola

Japan International Cooperation Agency

May 2017 – June 2018

Position

Coordinator / Impact evaluation /Training coordination 1

SDGs

Due to decades of colonial rule followed by a prolonged civil war (1975-2002), the Republic of Angola (hereinafter referred to as “Angola”) continues to face multiple socio-economic difficulties. Among these difficulties, ensuring the health of mothers and children is the most pressing need. Poor quality of health services due to a chronic shortage of well-trained health workers and inefficient management of the health system due to the malfunctioning of the referral system have exacerbated the country’s challenging health situation. In response to a request from the government of Angola, ProFORSA

「The Project for Strengthening the Health System through Human Resources Development in Josina Machel Hospital and other Health Facilities and Revitalization of Primary Health Care in Angola」was implemented from 2011 to 2014. As one of the inputs of ProFORSA, the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCH Handbook) was introduced with the expectation that its use would expand nationwide.

In order to strengthen the capacity of health workers through strengthening the management and monitoring function, and training activities at each medical level, implementation of the project began in May 2017.