Develop and strengthen implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes at healthcare facility levels

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy is intended to provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Tunisia to assess, develop and strengthen the implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) programs at healthcare facility levels.

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 an 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 Coronavirus (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) emphasizes 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 healthcare 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 healthcare facility IPC programs and to work with other programs to enhance the IPC preparedness and response across the designated healthcare facilities (HCFs).

Deliverables

Output 1: Participate in establishing functioning IPC governance mechanisms at designated HCFs

Deliverable 1.1: Assess existing IPC program governance using the WHO assessment tools.

Deliverable 1.2: Identify gaps and needs and provide options to strengthen IPC governance.

Deliverable 1.3: Coordinate with the hospital directors and other health facilities’ managing authorities in the designated health facilities to establish a functioning IPC governance supported by dedicated hospital IPC teams and committee with clear objectives, functions & defined scope of responsibilities

Output 2: Contribute to the implementation of best IPC practices in the designated healthcare facilities

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct baseline assessment for the IPC program regarding the preparedness at designated HCFs to identify priority gaps

Deliverable 2.2: Support designated HCFs to develop an IPC improvement action plan based on the results of the baseline assessment

Deliverable 2.3: Conduct regular field visits to selected facilities to provide on-the-job training /advice to improve IPC implementation.

Deliverable 2.4: Re-evaluate the Healthcare facilities at the end of the contract using the same tools and report on changes in IPC status implementation and standards.

Output 3: Contribute to the development and endorsement of IPC education and training plans and strategies

Deliverable 3.1: Support the hospital IPC teams to develop IPC education and training plans including specific targets.

Deliverable 3.2: Participate in virtual or onsite training of hospital IPC staff on basic and advanced IPC measures.

Output 4: Provide technical inputs to strengthen the IPC preparedness, readiness, and response in designated health facilities

Deliverable 4.1: Mapping of the IPC capacities at designated facilities and identifying areas to enhance the IPC preparedness, readiness, and response to infection outbreaks

Deliverable 4.2: Support designated health facilities to develop/update IPC technical guidance and plans for health emergencies

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in Medicine/ Medical Sciences or Nursing with a 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 in 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 are top priority.

Have experience with field assessment in IPC.

Have experience with UN agencies.

Skills/Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

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

• Advanced computer literacy (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)

Languages

• Advanced knowledge of French

• Advance knowledge of Arabic or English is preferable/desirable

Location

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

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

· Remuneration: at the national level NO-C

· Expected duration of the contract: 120 Days starting from 15 July 2023.

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education, and training are provided.

c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

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 an 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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  • 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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