Biomedical Engineering Expert (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 current 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.

It is against that background that the WHO AFRO is seeking to recruit a 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 have understanding of 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

More specifically, to support countries on:

• evaluation, need assessment, analysis of oxygen capacities and gaps to inform decision making
• development and implementation of national or subnational oxygen strategies/roadmaps/improvement plans
• Development of structured country level oxygen procurement plans
• Development of oxygen system dashboards and information
• Guidance and tools for the programmatic implementation and strengthening of oxygen use for COVID-19 and for the health system;
• Capacity building for oxygen systems and oxygen use as well as adapting training materials to the country context

5. DELIVRABLES

• Comprehensive report of country's capacities is available
• A national strategic plan is developed
• Terms of reference for a coordination platform is available
• An information system is set-up

7. EDUCATION

• Essential: University degree in biomedical engineering, or related discipline. Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.
• Desirable: Master’s in public health or relevant health care experience.

8. EXPERIENCE

• At least five years of experience with in-country medical device maintenance management or public health that include assessment, planning installations and maintenance
• Hands on experience in medical fluids installation (planning, procurement, implementation) is strongly desired, and broader public health experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with in-country health systems technical assistance, including for oxygen systems, ideally including low- and middle-income settings
• 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.
• Understanding of different capacity building models including engaging in-country service providers and private sector

9. OTHER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Computer literacy, MS Office Suite required
• Willingness to learn and use the WHO Oxygen Systems Planning Tool and be oriented on other oxygen resources and tools
• Proven ability to analyze data and 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 French is essential.

12. REMUNERATION

Remuneration will be at applicable salary as per the World Health Organization scale of Consultant at band level B.