Blood Safety Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR AN SSA CONSULTANT FOR THE BLOOD SAFETY PROGRAM

Background

WHO has supported the Blood transfusion services in Ethiopia since 2005 through an NPO and IP, the medical officer for blood safety. The support was initially to the ERCS blood service which was delegated to provide the services by the FMoH. In 2010, the FMoH made a policy decision to revert the blood transfusion services to government led department/agency. From 2010 to 2013, WHO supported the establishment of the blood transfusion service under the ministry of health as a case team in the medical services directorate. This support was through the transition strategy which replaced the five year strategic plan that was in place at that time. Through this transition strategy, the number of functional blood banks increased from 12 to 25 to improve access to quality blood services.

The Service was granted the status of an autonomous agency by the council of ministers under the advocacy of WHO. This agency was mandated by law to coordinate and direct the blood services in the country. As part of this mandate, the NBBS embarked on improving the quality of the service to the level of accreditation to ensure quality assured, safe, healthy, and adequate sustainable blood and blood product supply to the population.

Attaining accreditation is crucial in ensuring the availability of adequate, quality assured and safe blood and blood products for all patients in need of blood transfusion. Blood transfusion services involve a value chain with multi-step processes with inherent risk of error in each process from selecting donors, collecting and processing donations, testing of donor and patient samples, issue of compatible blood, to transfusing the patient. The roadmap to accreditation provides a framework within which activities in the strategic plan are performed in a quality-focused way and continuously monitored to improve outcomes. Thus the risk associated with blood transfusion can significantly be reduced by accreditation of the blood service.

WHO has supported the Addis Ababa center with an initial target of assessment by March 2017. However, there have been a number of changes in the core management team as well as the technical teams at the NBTS as a result of the in-depth reform process and thus a delay in the milestones along the accreditation roadmap. A consultant to support this process will thus require to be engaged for a few more months to enable continued support to the roadmap. It is against this backdrop that WHO seeks to recruit a consultant to support the MO blood safety in preparing national and regional blood banks for accreditation.

Responsibilities

With the support and guidance of the MO blood safety, the incumbent will perform the following activities;

1.     Conduct an assessment of the level of quality in 16 selected blood banks

2.     Write a report of the findings and gaps found

3.     Develop tailor-made roadmaps to address the gaps for each blood bank assessed.

4.     To support the implementation of the 5 year strategic plan and to produce regular reports.

Qualifications required

A minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in laboratory sciences with focus on quality as the main stream.

Experience

1.     At least 5 years’ experience of uninterrupted service in the area of blood transfusion.

2.     Experience in quality management in blood transfusion services for the same period.

3.     Excellent knowledge of the blood transfusion value chain and latest development trends in the field.

Competences 

1.     Good communication and interpersonal skills

2.     Good writing skills, fluency in English and experience in resolving complex blood transfusion service problems and challenges.

3.     Ability to work in diverse cultural backgrounds

Time Frame

The contract will initially be for 6 months and maybe extended depending on availability of funds to support implementation of the roadmaps

Reporting

The incumbent will report to the medical officer for blood safety at the WCO Ethiopia