Technical Advisor – Infection, Prevention & Control Full-Time

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. For more information please visit our website www.msh.org.

MSH Mozambique seeks to recruit 2 to 3 short-term Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Technical Advisors for a duration of six (6) months, to strengthen Mozambique’s preparedness and capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program is collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MoH) Technical Commission for Response to the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (COVID-19), to strengthen IPC capabilities of health facilities likely to receive COVID-19 infected patients.

Under the supervision of the MTaPS Country lead, the Technical Advisors will provide additional technical support to the MTaPS team to deliver immediate in-country technical assistance to the MoH as the country prepares and responds to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Key result areas;

At the national-level:

• Collaborate with the national emergency coordination mechanisms, including attending meetings as needed, to ensure MTaPS COVID-19 IPC response activities maintain alignment with the larger national and facility response. Participate in national emergency coordination mechanisms and technical working groups to ensure that MTaPS efforts align with and do not duplicate efforts of other response partners or the Mozambican government.

At the health facility-level:

• Conduct a rapid assessment of IPC Preparedness for COVID-19 in designated healthcare facilities – public and private healthcare facilities, including quarantine and isolation units designated for COVID-19 emergency response, in accordance to national and international standards for infection control in healthcare facilities;
• Support the revision or development of facility emergency IPC plans;
• Coordinate training on infection prevention and control, within the context of COVID-19 in health facilities;
• Develop guidelines, SOPs, standards, policy/regulator documents and MOUs for IPC and surge capacity during COVID-19 emergency;
• Oversee and support implementation of emergency IPC plan, including detailed plans for key IPC elements, SOPs and standards for COVID-19;
• Support hospitals to rehearse IPC preparedness plans for simulated COVID-19 outbreak. Assist designated facilities to design, conduct and evaluate an emergency exercise (either table-top, targeted drill, or full-scale exercise) to ensure that the IPC preparedness plan is functional and operational. In the case of real-life event of COVID-19 or SARI in a designated hospital, the event and real-life response would serve as the exercise of the IPC plans;
• Support hospitals to activate facility emergency plans in case of COVID-19 outbreak. Assist facility teams to activate the facility IPC emergency plan, provide technical assistance for monitoring and data collection to inform after-event review, and support the central level and facilities to determine and implement surge capacity as necessary;
• Support hospitals to strengthen or establish their outbreak emergency coordination task force, by strengthening existing outbreak response mechanisms, such as their IPC committees, or creating and building the capacity of teams where they do not exist;
• Collaborate with the MTaPS team to support the development and implementation of an emergency operations coordination and communications portal for coordinating MTaPS COVID-19 response activities.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor of Medicine (MD), or senior nursing expertise with understanding of mode of infection transmission and prevention. A degree, diploma or certification in field epidemiology, disease control, global health or any related field is desirable. At least 5 years’ experience working in healthcare, field epidemiology or emergency management. Certification in emergency management and instructional design is an added advantage.

S/he should have knowledge and understanding of the dynamics around COVID-19 emergency response. S/he should have experience in developing and implementing capacity-building and training activities for health emergency response. Demonstrated experience in emergency management and supporting national level coordination.  S/he should have experience working in Mozambique.

In addition, s/he should be fluent in Portuguese and the English language, be proficient in relevant 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.

For further detail and to apply for the position, please visit the Employment Opportunities section of our website at www.jobs-msh.icims.com or mz-recruitment@msh.org by April 20, 2020. If you cannot apply online, or have difficulty doing so, please email an explanation of your problem to iRecruiterproblem@msh.org. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.