USAID Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program

Recruitment of IPC program management for COVID-19 Preparedness assessment STTA for Ethiopia

Statement of Work

Background

In the advent of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) related to COVID-19 outbreak, USAID through its Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) program, implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), is providing technical assistance to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) to support the COVID-19 response in the areas of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). MTaPS has been tasked to strengthen IPC capabilities of designated health facilities likely to receive COVID-19 infected patients and support Ethiopia’s efforts in assuring the safety of healthcare workers fighting covid-19. Support to healthcare professionals includes trainings and supervision in the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), management of medical waste and production/adaptation of various guidelines. WHO, CDC and the national government have existing training materials that can be adapted for this training

Purpose

The purpose of this scope of work is to hire an IPC Technical Advisor Consultant to provide technical support to EPHI as the country braces up for a COVID-19 outbreak. This scope includes work with the national emergency operation center (EOC) and assessment of and capacity building for health facilities and isolation centers that will receive COVID-19 patients (preparedness assessment and capacity building to meet WHO requirements).

This work will require public health professionals with expertise in infection prevention and control within healthcare settings or in the context of outbreaks, and who are skilled in capacity building of hospital/healthcare practitioners.

Scope of Work

• Develop or adopt/adapt guidelines on the following areas and support facilities to implement the protocols for COVID-19;
  • Screening and triage protocols and checklists at facility access points for early recognition of cases
  • Standard and additional empirical precautions
  • Surge fatality management protocols and administrative controls on IPC
  • Proper collection and disposal of contaminated medical waste
  • Safe burial of deceased patient infected with COVID-19
  • Developing TOR for Identifying staff competencies and potential responsibilities in case of an outbreak.
• Assess the IPC readiness of selected health facilities to respond to COVID-19 outbreak, using standard checklist.
• Support training of health care workers on the WHO Covid-19-specific IPC prevention and control guidance and just-in-time (i.e. refresher) training on response procedures for IPC, for surge response staff.
• Building the capacity of IPC committees (or similarly functioning committees) where they exist or establishing them as accountability structures during an outbreak
• Support in identifying or designating areas to manage COVID-19 patient isolation units following standard recommendations (CDC, WHO). 
• Assist health facilities in planning, conducting, and evaluating facility-wide Covid-19 simulation exercises (e.g., drills, table-top exercises) in collaboration with national authorities to test IPC capabilities in health facilities.
• Support regular monitoring of IPC compliance at facility access points and isolation units
• Support implementation research to identify and solve barriers to the delivery of effective response measures for IPC in real time during the response.
• Facilitate after-action review workshops that include the IPC component of the response and document lessons learnt.

Deliverables

• Facility capacity assessment report on COVID-19 emergency preparedness and gaps identified
• Rapid improvement plan to effectively implement and sustain IPC practice for COVID-19
• Implementation of WHO/CDC/EPHI and other approved Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for 1) screening and triage, 2) standard and additional empirical precautions, 3) surge fatality management protocols, 4) proper collection and disposal of contaminated medical waste, 5) infection prevention measures for healthcare workers, 6) safe burial of deceased patient infected with COVID-19,
• Ongoing compliance monitoring /self-assessment checklists
• Job aids for specific categories of staff (clinical and non-clinical staff) 

Period of performance

• The consultancy is a six-month contract during the period from April 1^st 2020 to September 30^th, 2020.

Qualification/Requirements

• Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics about COVID-19 emergency required
• MD or MPH, or BSc in environmental Health Sciences or qualification in field epidemiology, disease control, global health or any related field
• Expertise in outbreak management/infection transmission (e.g. Ebola) a plus
• At least 5 years’ experience in healthcare settings, field epidemiology or emergency outbreak management
• Proven track record in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
• A good knowledge of the Ethiopian health system
• Willingness to work with different stakeholders during epidemics to save lives