Short-term Consultant (STC) - Infection Prevention and Control

1. BACKGROUND

CLO-FSM received a request from the health authorities of Chuuk State Hospital, FSM, and MoH, Palau for technical assistance for IPC strengthening

The objectives of the consultancy are to:

1. Assess IPC practices at each site using a validated assessment tool

2. Review surveillance for healthcare-associated infections, including catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections

3. Review surveillance for target antimicrobial resistant organisms

4. Train health staff in use of the IPC assessment tools and IPC best practice

5. Support the development of an IPC action plan to address gaps in IPC and surveillance activities

6. Review FSM  IPC Guidelines in collaboration with FSM Epi-Lab Capacity team and Palau IPC Guideline in collaboration with the relevant staff in MoH

Start date: July 17, 2019

End date: August 20, 2019

(23 working days, 20 days in the countries and 3 days at home place)

2. PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will assist the government to implement the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program. The consultant will review the implementation of IPC, including AMR and healthcare-associated infection surveillance, at the Chuuk State Hospital, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Belau National Hospital, Koror, Palau, including reviewing health and laboratory data in order to plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate appropriate IPC practices. The consultant will then train healthcare staff through systematic methods and instructions and disseminate the information on infection control practices.

3. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1: Review the operation of the Infection Prevention/Control Program

Deliverable 1.1: Situation analysis report (policy, guideline, infection surveillance data, good and bad practices in the hospital and etc)

Output 2: Train the hospital and medical staff, departments and teams on IPC

Deliverable 2.1: Concept note of the training, training schedule, training materials and technical report on the training

Output 3: Develops policies and procedures that support key infection prevention and control functions

Deliverable 3.1: IPC action plan (draft)

Deliverable 3.2: revised IPC guidelines in both countries

4. METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Responsible to the CLO-FSM and working in close collaboration with the Quality Assurance Manager of each hospital, hospital IPC committee and/or IPC officers as applicable, the consultant will stay for 2 weeks in Chuuk State and 2 weeks in Palau to jointly conduct an assessment of IPC policies, procedures and practices using a validated methodology and tool, organize a training for the health staff in the assessment process and good IPC practice, including a practical exercise session. She/he will also review data sources on healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, support the development of an IPC remediation plan as needed identifying immediate, short and long term priorities, and make recommendations for the revision or guide the development of an  IPC manual informed by the Pacific IPC Manual.

5. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  

Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Nursing, Epidemiology or Microbiology

Master of Public Health degree and above

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

A minimum of five years of clinical experience in a hospital setting or disease surveillance experience in a public health setting

Desirable:

Experience of having worked for the areas of quality assurance or IPC areas in general

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Facilitation skill to train government staff, in-depth knowledge about WHO’s IPC-related guidelines, AMR and healthcare related surveillance system

LANGUAGES

English fluent in reading - Write - Speak

COMPETENCIES

Communicating in a credible and effective way; Producing results; Moving forward in a changing environment;

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and Expression of Interest (cover letter) to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 25 June 2019. 

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. WPRO/2019-06/FSM_DPS/TN91942/bab as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.