Tech Advisor/ Consultant Full-Time

MSH in Mozambique seeks to recruit a consultant for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) management to conduct COVID-19 preparedness assessment at health facilities, for a duration of three (3) months.

USAID MTaPS is currently supporting the Mozambican Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen pharmaceutical regulation, improve pharmaceutical services and improve patient outcomes. In addition, MTaPS has been designated by USAID to provide support to several USAID focus countries in the area of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and particularly in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) containment. A key objective area of AMR is to strengthen country capacities in infection prevention and control (IPC). In the advent of the January 30, 2020 WHO declaration of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and issuing temporary recommendations under IHR, USAID has requested MTaPS to provide technical assistance to the government of Mozambique in the area of COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response. MTaPS has been tasked to support health facilities likely to receive COVID-19 infected patients to strengthen IPC capabilities and biosafety of professional staff. This will also include strengthening IPC and waste management practices at the facilities.

The purpose of this scope of work is to hire a Health Facility Assessment and Preparedness consultant/Technical Advisor to provide additional technical support to the MTaPS team to deliver immediate technical assistance to the MOH as the country braces up for COVID-19 outbreak. This scope includes work that will be done at the health facility level in hospitals likely to receive COVID-19 patients to prepare facility-level IPC committees and teams for COVID-19 outbreak; and support the facilities through such eventuality.

This work will require a senior clinical practitioner, with expertise in infection prevention and control within healthcare settings or in the context of outbreaks, and skilled in capacity building of hospital practitioners.

Scope of Work

1. Assessment of the COVID-19 quarantine and isolations units

•  in identified hospitals for infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare waste management (HCWM) preparedness to respond to emerging (e.g. COVID-19); and other emerging and re-emerging infectious disease emergencies in accordance to national standards for infection control of healthcare facilities. Assessment should include but not limited to the capacities of these isolation rooms and quarantine facilities to appropriately ensure the biosafety of patients and healthcare workers during specimen collection, testing, and handling and transport of patients including dead bodies if any.

2. Support the revision or development of facility infectious disease emergency management plans

The consultant will work with a team of experts from the central level and facility IPC committees to review and update or develop an emergency management plan for each designated facility to ensure that facilities have up-to-date emergency management plans, protocols and teams.

3. Assess the adequacy of IPC and waste management supplies

•  and liaise with the national COVID-19 Emergency Task Force and the procurement and distribution teams to ensure that results and recommendations of this assessment are taken into consideration when planning procurement and distribution of supplies

Deliverables

• Facility assessment reports for IPC and HCWM emergency response preparedness of COVID-19 referral hospitals with clear recommendations;
• Updated facility emergency plans for designated facilities to receive patients and suspected cases including IPC and HCWM components;
• Weekly activity reports.

• The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor of Medicine (MD); or a Bachelor of Nursing; or Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences; or a Master of Public Health (MPH) or Epidemiology, disease control, global health or any related field.  At least 5 years’ experience working in healthcare, field epidemiology or emergency management at Senior Level. Certification in emergency management is an added advantage;
• S/he should have knowledge and understanding of the dynamics about COVID-19 emergency.  Expertise in infectious disease outbreak management/infection transmission is an added advantage;
• S/he should have a proven track record in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC);
• The candidate should have a good mastery of the Mozambican health system and should be have the willingness to work with different stakeholders during epidemics to save lives;
• In addition, s/he should be fluent in proficient in Portuguese and the English languages.  Basic competency in computer applications which includes word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and presentations (Microsoft Office applications preferred.  The successful candidate needs to be a strong team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  S/he should work with minimal supervision with ability to work independently and in a team.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health services. Working with governments, donors, non governmental organizations, the private sector, and health agencies, MSH responds to priority health problems such as HIV & AIDS; tuberculosis; malaria; maternal, newborn and child health; family planning and reproductive health; and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and lung and heart disease. Through strengthening capacity, investing in health systems innovation, building the evidence base, and advocating for sound public health policy, MSH is committed to making a lasting difference in global health.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.

Technical Strategy Lead