National Consultant - Primary Health Care Advisor (Integration of HIV/STI/BBV/TB) - Suva/Fiji

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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy 

The consultant will work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV Unit, in close collaboration with programme leads and the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT) and its sub-committees, to support the integration of HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services into Fiji's primary health care (PHC) system—a core national strategy to expand access, reduce stigma, and strengthen continuity of care. The consultancy will provide technical leadership, systems guidance, and targeted capacity building to ensure PHC facilities are equipped to deliver integrated screening, diagnosis, referral, treatment, and long-term care. 

Background 

Fiji’s HIV epidemic is evolving rapidly, with transmission increasingly linked to new and emerging risk behaviours, including injecting drug use associated with methamphetamine. The absence of formal harm reduction services, such as needle and syringe programmes, has created conditions for accelerated HIV and hepatitis transmission within certain networks. At the same time, delayed diagnosis, limited testing coverage among high-risk populations, and persistent stigma continue to constrain early access to treatment and prevention services. 

The Government of Fiji, through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), has prioritised strengthening the national response by expanding combination prevention interventions and testing options, improving treatment access, decentralising diagnostic and laboratory capacity, and reinforcing surveillance and data systems. The establishment of the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT) provides a coordinated governance platform to address the outbreak comprehensively through multi-sector engagement and technical alignment. 

A critical next step in this response is the strategic integration of SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services into primary health care (PHC). Integrating these services within PHC structures ensures that prevention, testing, treatment initiation, and follow-up become part of routine, non-stigmatised care. This approach not only increases accessibility for vulnerable and key populations but also strengthens continuity of care, enhances early case detection, and enables more efficient use of existing human and financial resources. 

Integration within PHC also supports comprehensive person-centred health delivery, linking SRH, HIV, and communicable disease services to broader areas such as NCD management, mental health, and reproductive care. It aligns with global and regional commitments, including WHO’s Operational Framework for Primary Health Care and the Pacific Roadmap for Health and Wellbeing (2021–2030), both of which emphasise system integration, equity, and sustainability. 

By embedding SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services within PHC, Fiji will be better positioned to respond to the changing epidemic landscape, close service gaps, and ensure that communities receive coordinated, rights-based, and high-quality care at every level of the health system. 

1. Planned timelines  

   Start date: 1 March 2026 

   End date: 31 January 2027 

    

   Deliverables 

   Output 1: Assessment of primary health care readiness for integrated HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services. 

2. Deliverable 1.1 Develop and validate an assessment methodology, tools, and sampling plan, in consultation with SRH & HIV Unit, N-HOCRT Committees and others.  

3. Deliverable 1.2 Conduct field assessments across representative PHC facilities to evaluate service capacity, workforce readiness, diagnostics, commodity management, and referral systems. 

4. Deliverable 1.3 Analyse gaps and bottlenecks in service delivery, data management, and patient pathways. 

5. Deliverable 1.4 Produce a national PHC readiness assessment report outlining immediate, medium-term, and structural actions for improvement, with costed recommendations where feasible. 

   Output 2: National Framework for Integrated HIV, STI, BBV, and TB Service Delivery within PHC. 

6. Deliverable 2.1 Develop an evidence-based integration framework defining service packages, minimum standards, and referral mechanisms for PHC facilities. 

   📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

   ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

7. Deliverable 2.2 Align the framework with national PHC policy, clinical guidelines, and WHO operational frameworks. 

8. Deliverable 2.3 Facilitate consultations through the N-HOCRT Treatment, Care and Support Committee and other technical committees and working groups to validate the framework. 

9. Deliverable 2.4 Finalise the framework with an implementation roadmap, including roles, timelines, and indicators for monitoring integration progress. 

   Output 3: Capacity strengthening for PHC providers and supervisors. 

10. Deliverable 3.1 Develop training modules on integrated screening, syndromic management, HIV and hepatitis testing, TB symptom screening, infection control, and adherence support. 

11. Deliverable 3.2 Plan and facilitate training-of-trainers (ToT) sessions for divisional and sub-divisional teams, incorporating adult-learning and mentoring approaches. 

12. Deliverable 3.3 Develop and distribute competency checklists, job aids, and supervision tools for sustained quality improvement. 

    Output 4: Standardised clinical and operational tools for integration. 

13. Deliverable 4.1 Develop and field test integrated clinical algorithms, screening forms, and patient registers for use in PHC settings. 

14. Deliverable 4.2 Establish referral and feedback pathways linking PHC with hospitals, laboratories, TB clinics, and community-based programmes. 

15. Deliverable 4.3 Pilot and refine tools based on feedback from PHC staff and programme managers, ensuring compatibility with digital reporting systems (e.g., PATISPlus). 

     
    Output 5: Strengthened surveillance, data integration, and use of information. 

16. Deliverable 5.1 Align PHC-level indicators for SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB with national surveillance frameworks under the SRH & HIV Unit and N-HOCRT Data for Impact Committee. 

17. Deliverable 5.2 Update or harmonise reporting tools, registers, and digital interfaces to capture integrated service data. 

18. Deliverable 5.3 Train PHC staff on data entry, validation, and analysis for use in divisional and national decision-making. 

19. Deliverable 5.4 Produce quarterly data synthesis briefs summarising PHC contribution to the national outbreak response. 

    Output 6: Integrated community outreach and referral model. 

20. Deliverable 6.1 Design a community-based outreach model linking PHC services with CSOs, FBOs, and community health workers to expand reach to key and vulnerable populations.