Consultant (production of alcohol based hand rub)

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization Sierra Leone is supporting the Ministry of health to improve quality of care countrywide. Evidence from all regions of the world support the fact that hand hygiene compliance is key to reducing healthcare associated infections. Given the lack of infrastructure in most hospitals in Sierra Leone (lack of sinks with clean running water, soap and individual disposable towels), ABHR is the best solution to providing the means to hand hygiene when indicated at the point of care. The cost of purchasing imported ABHR is prohibitive for most hospital budgets. The WHO country office has plans to support pilot local production of alcohol based hand rub in selected health facilities to improve hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.

Purpose of the position

It is the Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s endeavour to minimize risks of Healthcare Associated Infections through implementing WHO Core Components of Infection Control. One of the key factors is hand hygiene. For Sierra Leone to implement the WHO Hand Hygiene Multi-modal Strategy, it is important to ensure hand hygiene compliance is increased in all health care facilities. Given the challenges of water shortages, lack of infrastructure (hand washing stations), local production of Alcohol based hand rub (ABHR) will go a long way in addressing hand hygiene challenges. Hospitals need to have trained personnel and appropriate equipment to perform local production and assess its quality. WHO will provide leadership and technical expertise and support refresher trainings, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the ABHR production and ensure best practices and standards are adhered to. Under overall supervision of the head of WHO office in Sierra Leone and the direct supervision of the WHO IPC team lead, the Consultant will work in close collaboration with the National Infection Prevention and Control Unit to conduct training in ABHR production. Specifically, the consultant is expected to\:

1. Conduct refresher training for healthcare workers theoretic basis of ABHR and of good manufacturing practices (GMP) in general
2. Demonstrate  the ABHR production process from primary materials to finished product
3. Demonstrate   the ABHR quality control process from primary materials to finished product
4. Assist each participant to demonstrate the ability to perform ABHR production

 DELIVERABLES

Under overall supervision of the head of WHO office in Sierra Leone and the direct supervision of the WHO IPC team lead, the Consultant will work in close collaboration with the National Infection Prevention and Control Unit to support the local production of alcohol based hand rub at the health facilities. The main objective is to train eight health professionals from each hospital in the theory (through lecture presentations) and practical production process of the WHO formula alcohol based hand rub with confirmation through individual observed performance of production steps and quality control process from primary materials to final product with confirmation through individual assessments. The training will include lecture presentations.

 Duties\:

1. Focused lecture presentations of background, importance for hospital acquired infection reduction, context and theoretic basis of ABHR and of good manufacturing practices (GMP) in general.
2. Demonstration of the ABHR production process from primary materials to finished product followed by participants completing the production of two batches (200 bottles) themselves.
3. Demonstration of the ABHR quality control process from primary materials to finished product followed by each participant demonstrating the ability to complete this process.
4. Assessment of participants’ learning.

TECHNICAL SUPERVISION

The consultant will work in participatory manner with the National IPC Unit, the Central Medical stores, District and hospital management teams, the hospital IPC committee to conduct the refresher training to final production of Alcohol based hand production. The consultant will interact with the trainers, hospital IPC committees.  During the assignment the consultant will liaise regularly with the national IPC unit to update about work progress in relation to the work planning and of any circumstance or event that may affect the development of the mission, or its outcome.

The Consultant will work on the supervision of\:

Responsible Officer(s)\:     Dr M. Vandi Director, Health Security and Emergencies,

                                             Christiana Kallon National IPC Coordinator MOHS,

                                           Anna Maruta IPC team Lead, WHO, Sierra Leone

Manager\: Alexander Chimbaru, OIC, Sierra Leone  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education\:

Essential\:

• University degree in Pharmacy or any health science discipline

• Special training in ABHR production

Desirable\:

• Master’s in public health

• Training in IPC or AMR will be an added advantage

Experience\:

Essential\:

• At least 5 years’ work experience in a pharmacy settings

• Experience working across health care facilities in low resource settings.

• Experience working with and supporting MOHS

Desirable\:

ʉۢ Training in Healthcare associated infections (HAI) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be an added advantage

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•  Language requirement\: excellent command and knowledge of English including the ability to write, technical reports in a clear and concise manner

•   Demonstrable experience in ABHR production

•   Report writing skills

•   Ability to perform within timeframe and meet deadlines

•   Previous working experience in resource constraint environment will be an added advantage Competencies\:

Use of Language Skills

Essential\:  Excellent written and spoken English

REMUNERATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Remuneration

P3- Level (7,000 Monthly rate)

Place of Assignment

This consultant will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone but will also travel to the districts.