Consultancy - Waste management (WASH - Vaccine)

BACKGROUND

As Lao PDR implements the COVID-19 vaccination program, it is critical that healthcare waste is managed properly. Requisite capacities for waste management are lacking at present and COVID-19 vaccination is generating generate a vast amount of medical waste, including millions of sharps used for immunizations. (At least 3 million sharps were generated from the COVID-19 vaccination program in 2021 alone.) Sharps must be managed appropriately as bio-hazardous waste and a process of safely collecting and disposing of this hazardous waste material must be followed. Done poorly, not only can sharps cause cuts and punctures but medical waste sharps may also cause blood-borne infections.

Using this pandemic as an opportunity, the government of Lao PDR has been making great efforts to strengthen infrastructure and technical capacity to improve WASH, including medical waste management and IPC at the healthcare facility level. Lao PDR has received funds from USAID to support the government, specifically MOH, with COVID-19 vaccination, including in the area of waste management and WHO will support MOH to ensure appropriate disposal of COVID-19 vaccination waste. WHO aims to build on current efforts and complement the work of other development partners, in order to achieve optimum results through an integrated approach to healthcare waste management.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Lao PDR to ensure that the health workforce is adequately trained on reverse logistics and waste management to enable responsible disposal of vaccination waste through a single integrated health care waste management system. This would help to improve COVID-19 vaccination waste management and as a result would also improve health care waste management generally post-pandemic, including the management of routine immunization waste

Note: The international consultant and a national consultant will work collaboratively under terms of reference that are complementary to one another and coordinated by the Team Leader for Environmental Health in collaboration with the Team Leader for Vaccine Preventable Diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of the Team Leader for Environmental Health and the management of the WHO Representative, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1: Increased capacity and sufficient workforce adequately trained on reverse logistics and waste management in order to strengthen the waste management system

• • Deliverable: Waste collection, transport, intermediate storage, treatment and disposal and logistics management SOPs are developed for local health centre and outreach team use; should include how waste segregated, collected and treated at health centre level and describe reverse logistics for proper disposal of infectious and sharp wastes.[1]  
• • Deliverable: develop or revise training and communication materials (posters and modules) on the use of those SOPs and reflect changes in the WASH FIT section on waste management for small hospitals.
• • Deliverable: Training-of-trainers is conducted, targeting a nominal number of 50 trainers in two batches.

Output 2: Surge capacity to be planned to safely collect, transport and dispose of COVID-19 vaccine waste in an integrated manner.

• • Deliverable: Develop plan for MOH mobilize additional human resources to meet the demand for waste management services occasioned by the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Output 3: Waste management strategies in place.

• • Deliverable: Develop a guideline or tool to assess current waste management capacities in randomly selected districts, villages, health centre, and outreach areas. (The guideline or tool will be used by the national consultant to conduct the assessments.) 
• • Deliverable: Revise section of waste management at health centre that is described in the national health care waste management regulation (covering waste separation, collection, transport, treatment and disposal).

Output 4: National healthcare waste management strategy and implementation plan.

• • Develop a comprehensive national health care waste management strategy and implementation plan, based on an integrated approach, in collaboration with the MOH, local government authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
• • Deliverable: Draft national healthcare waste management strategy and implementation plan, suitable for government review and approval.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

At least a master’s degree in public health, medicine, an allied health profession, or environmental science or engineering, or a closely related field of study from a recognized university.

EXPERIENCE

At least 20 years of professional experience working in the field of environmental health, including at least ten years of experience addressing healthcare waste management policies and practices at national level in developing countries.

Experience in Lao PDR or other developing countries of Southeast Asia is desirable.

Experience addressing immunization waste and experience addressing healthcare waste in the context of COVID-19 is desirable. 

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Expert knowledge of WHO policies and technical guidance on healthcare waste management, including management of immunization waste, WHO’s WASH Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT), and WHO guidance on climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities.

Strong technical knowledge on alternative healthcare waste treatment and disposal technologies and decision logic for technology selection.

Ability to assess and understand national situation and circumstances and to adapt international best practice accordingly.

LANGUAGES

Ability to communicate in written and spoken English as well or nearly as well as mother tongue.

COMPETENCIES

• • Producing results
• • Communicating effectively
• • Working in multicultural working environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Place of assignment: Home-based mission with virtual meeting with WHO and MOH technical units

Contract duration: 15 April 2022 to 15 October 2022 (6 months)

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit CV to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 18 March 2022.

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 169767 as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.