IPC Interventions and CD Laboratory Capacity Improvement Consultant

Purpse of the Consultancy

This consultancy intended to technically support the country in the development of its own national protocols for IPC and MR action plans and to support health care facilities as they develop or strengthen their own approaches to IPC.

Background

Like every affected country worldwide, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s health system is being significantly challenged by the COVID-19 outbreak, and for the almost past three years, the main focus of the health system has shifted to contain the pandemic. As a result, many health-related priorities and action plans have been on the hold or simply lacked adequate resources. As such, is the health care-associated infections (HAI), being one of the most common adverse events in care delivery and a major public health problem with an impact on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. These infections also present a significant economic burden at the societal level. However, a large percentage of HAI are preventable through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. Moreover, the threats posed by epidemics, pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have become increasingly evident as ongoing universal challenges and they are now recognized as a top priority for action on the global health agenda. Effective IPC is the cornerstone of such action.

In this regard, Ministry of Health, and Medical Education (MOHME) of Iran has sought WHO support and guidance to develop and expand IPC programme with dedicated and trained teams. The linkages between the national IPC programme and other related programmes are key and should be established and maintained. Good quality laboratory support is an example as a very critical factor for an effective IPC programme. In this regard, a national network has been established for laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases, and for the genomic surveillance of viruses by the NGS method. Pasteur Institute and national health reference laboratory are the leaders and coordinators of this network which comprise nearly 300 public and private labs. There is a need for strengthening the national network through the provision of technical assistance in various aspects of training, quality assurance, and lab-based infection management.

To this end, and in line with our mandate to support MOHME, WCO/Iran runs a short-term consultancy to assist WCO in successful implementation of the recommendations in infection prevention and control of communicable diseases based on robust strategies and a defined process of adaptation and integration into relevant national and facility level health systems.

Planned timelines

Start date: 15/11/2022

End date: 15/05/2023

(6 months)

Work to be performed

The consultant will strengthen the national programme to generate and systematically use the strategic information to improve laboratory and hospital response, preparedness, and infection prevention and control on communicable diseases (CD), through performing the following tasks:

Output 1: Support the MOH to adopt the national IPC governance mechanisms in alignment to WHO core components

Deliverable 1.1: Organize meetings to review the current structure and explore ways to align with WHO guidance

Deliverable 1.2: Provide recommendations for developing a mechanism for cross-departmental governance of IPC program

Output 2: Develop national IPC monitoring plan including specific national IPC indicators.

Deliverable 2.1: Prepare Key indicator and IPC monitoring tools

Deliverable 2.2: Ensure reports to be disseminated in a timely manner from local facility to national level

Deliverable 2.3: Support MoHME in developing reporting dashboard for regular monitoring of IPC implementation

Deliverable 2.4: Support implementing a feedback mechanism for healthcare facilities implement multimodal interventions to achieve improvement in priority IPC practices.

Output 3: Support linking IPC with other relevant national programmes, including AMR and public health laboratories strengthening

Deliverable 3.1 - Provide evidence-based updates and recommendations for supporting the MOH departments regarding antimicrobial resistance, rapid diagnostics, molecular testing, laboratory information systems, and biosafety.

Deliverable 3.2: Coordinate needs assessment and procurement of lab diagnostics, equipment, and consumables.

Deliverable 3.3: Provide other technical support to WCO as assigned by the supervisor

Deliverable for output I, II, & III

Deliverable

Date

%

Countersigned contract

15 Nov 2022

0%

1st Technical progress report under output I, II, III

28 Dec 2022

25%

2nd Technical progress report under output I, II, III

12 Feb 2022

50

Final report under all outputs

27 Mar 2023

25%

Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Essential: first university degree in microbiology, virology, or related subjects

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Immunology, or relevant subjects.

- Experience required:

Minimum: Up to 5 years of experience in microbiology, molecular, and diagnosis laboratories in hospitals

Desirable: At least one year experience in WHO or other UN agencies

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, within and outside the organization.
• Excellent knowledge of technical advisory services in program related areas and the health systems.
• Good knowledge in project planning, design, monitoring and evaluation and management.
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.
• MS Office

- Language requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of English (four skills) and other UN official languages (preferable)
• Proficiency in local language (Persian)

Place of assignment

Official workplace will be WHO-country office Iran-Tehran. Working from home modality may be advised by WCO.

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant is expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The incumbent may need to travel for work purposes under organizational rules and regulations.

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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