Consultant - Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) program at national levels

1. Area of expertise

Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) program at national levels.

2. Purpose of consultancy

Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) program at national and health facility levels are crucial for health systems strengthening to withstand shocks caused by highly transmissible infections. Strong IPC program will prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and preparedness and response to epidemic and pandemic infectious diseases. This consultancy is intended to provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Tunisia to assess, develop and strengthen the national and facility level IPC program

3. Background

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) cause increasingly significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. About three in every 20 hospitalized patients get infection while receiving healthcare in low and middle- income countries. The recent major epidemics and pandemics that occurred in our region and worldwide (COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Corona virus (MERS CoV) and Ebola virus disease (EVD)), were mainly magnified due to the lack of effective national and facility level IPC program which are crucial for health systems strengthening to withstand shocks caused by highly transmissible infections.

Furthermore, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the WHO Global Action Plan on

Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR 2015) emphasize the importance of IPC as a cornerstone of countries’ capacity building and preparedness to respond to emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, IPC occupies a unique position in the field of patient safety and quality of care, as it is universally relevant to every health worker and patient, at every health care interaction and should be embedded within health systems.

To achieve the above, WHO Country Office Tunisia will provide the leadership, technical expertise, and guidance to MOH to establish and strengthen national and healthcare facility IPC program achieve core components and other IPC standards, support the reduction of the burden of health care associated infections, and facilitate implementation of IPC guidelines.

4. The terms of reference are to

1/ Participate in establishing/strengthening of national and facility level IPC governance mechanisms

2/ Provide technical advice to the endorsement and dissemination of the national IPC guidelines

3/ Contribute to the development /update IPC education and training policy

4/ National IPC monitoring/auditing plans and tools

Output

Deliverable 1

Deliverable 1.1: Existing national and facility level IPC program governance are assessed using the WHO assessment tools

Deliverable 1.2: IPC gaps and needs are identified to advise on future to strengthen IPC governances

Deliverable1.3: The progress in implementing IPC governance mechanisms is followed regularly

Deliverable 2

Deliverable 2.1: Technical plans are adapted to facilitate the completion and endorsement of the national IPC guidelines

Deliverable 3

Deliverable 3.1: The IPC training materials provided by the regional office is adapted for the local context and is in alignment with the national IPC guidelines

Deliverable 3.2 The IPC training to the hospital IPC teams are conducted

Deliverable 4

Deliverable 4.1: Field visits conducted to sites for general supervision and advise to improve implementation

Deliverable 4.2: data analysis conducted, and report written for quality improvements

A final report is submitted at the end of consultation

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational:

Essential: University degree in Medicine/ Medical Sciences or Nursing with specialization in IPC, microbiology, public health, epidemiology or infectious diseases.

Desirable: working experience with WHO on IPC, environmental health & capacity building etc.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years’ experience in the field of IPC and proven experience of implementing and improving IPC at national and hospital levels as part of health system strengthening and outbreak response in low and middle resource settings

Familiarity with WHO IPC core components, facility assessment tools, strategies and implementation tools is top priority.

Desirable:

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• High sense of responsibility and strong organizational skills with ability to work under pressure.

• Advanced computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power point, etc.)

Languages and level required:

• Advanced knowledge of French

• Advance knowledge of Arabic or English is preferable/desirable

6. Location

The Consultant expected to perform her/his work in Tunisia especially in Tunis and other governorates.

1. Remuneration: national consultant NO-C level

2. Expected duration of contract: 7 months

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

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• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.

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