Biomedical Engineering Experts (Oxygen)

1. BACKGROUND

Medical oxygen is an essential life-saving medicine, and there is no substitution for it when it is lacking. Available evidence supports prioritizing investment in oxygen infrastructure for all patients that need it, including patients suffering from COVID19, other severe acute respiratory infections, and other conditions that cause hypoxemia.

Many patients in the African Region need oxygen as part of their clinical treatment plan but the great majority do not get it due to the severe shortage of oxygen in many countries in the Region. During the period February - October 2021 for instance, the cumulative number of cases has exceeded 6 million and an estimated 1.3 million patients have needed access to oxygen for Covid alone. Furthermore, out of the 32 countries in the world that faced dangerous levels of oxygen shortages in 2021 also referred to as “code-red oxygen shortage countries”, six (19%) were from the WHO African Region. In other words, one in five countries in the world that face dangerous shortage of oxygen is from the WHO African Region– this situation is very dire and worrying

The WHO AFRO is currently supporting countries in the African region through a multidisciplinary approach to scale-up quality medical oxygen access. The WHO AFRO strategy aims to increase capacities and knowledge on the management of oxygens devices and to reinforce the national governance of oxygen through policy and plan for the progressive realization of sustainable oxygen system. The Emergency Preparedness and Response cluster has provided leadership for AFRO’s support to countries for the repair and maintenance of oxygen plants, and procurement of new PSA oxygen generation plants in selected countries – increasing the number of oxygen plants in the region .AFRO is now responding to the most acute needs in the most at risk countries.

It is against that background that the WHO AFRO is seeking expression of consultant to scale-up ongoing initiative to ensure sustainable access to quality-assured, medical grade oxygen by Member states in the African region. The consultant should understand Public Health programming for the provision of services related to planning, coordination, strategy design, procurement, installation and maintenance, programmatic use, monitoring, business analysis and documentation, as well as costing and resource mobilization for oxygen systems. Specific focus will be on ongoing support to the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner that strengthens health systems and specifically oxygen access.

3. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To provide technical guidance to the countries for the implementation of interventions that promote access to quality assured oxygen supply.

4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Specifically, the EOI is looking for sound expertise and proven experience to support countries in the following:

• assessment the need of analysis the oxygen supply capacities and the oxygen gaps to inform decision making;
• procurement process, site and infrastructure development for oxygen supply equipment including installation, commissioning, and maintenance of PSA generator and LMO plants;
• managing or advising for the financing ideally on the design and the specifications of equipment (and systems) used for treating patients, particularly in low-middle-income-countries (LMIC);
• installation and assembly controlling for commissioning, storage, distribution maintenance management and performance inspection;
• guidance and tools in design and specification of medical oxygen equipment and systems in the public and/or private health sector implementation for covid-19 and for the health system;
• capacity building and mentorship development for oxygen supply and monitoring devices as well as adapting training materials to the country context.

5. DELIVRABLES

• Oxygen consumption optimized and gaps filled in the oxygen supplies system.
• Sustainable oxygen supply, monitoring and treatment devices with effective maintenance management implemented.
• Ethnical guidances for procurement are provided and; assurance and verification of projects completed.

7. EDUCATION

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical engineering; Electromechanical engineering or Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.
• ·Desirable: Master’s in public health or relevant health care experience.

8. EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 7 years relevant experience in managing or advising ideally on the financing, design, specifications, sourcing and procurement, installation/assembly/ commissioning, storage and distribution, maintenance and use of equipment (and systems) used for treating patients, particularly in Low-Middle-Income-Countries (LMIC) with:
  • experience/expertise in oxygen storage and distribution systems
  • experience/expertise in installation, assembly, and commissioning of PSA (pressure swing adsorption) oxygen plants, with required infrastructure needs, maintenance, and servicing
• field or remote servicing and training for pneumatic and electric installations or devices.
• metering and estimating of medical gas pipe sizes and the distribution network according to delivery pressure into the healthcare facilities.
• a good understanding of the global and/or regional oxygen ecosystem, applicable national and international laws, and recognised quality standards
• · good writing and analytical skills
• The below experience/expertise would be very advantageous:
• · experience/expertise in the sourcing and procurement of all oxygen-delivery systems (PSA plants, ancillary devices, and equipment) including regulations and tendering process
• · experience/expertise in advising on financing of oxygen systems, including total cost of ownership

9. OTHER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Willingness to learn and use the WHO Oxygen Systems Planning Tool and be oriented on other oxygen resources and tools

Proven ability to write reports that are of high quality

Excellent written and verbal communication skills to liaise with a wide variety of people, good attention to detail.

Core Competencies:

Able to quickly understand instructions and proactively seek clarification when needed

Able to work well in a team environment

10. LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

Fluency in written and spoken English and/or French is essential.