Technical Advisor at Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

MSH Kenya seeks to recruit Technical Advisor for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM) for a duration of six (6) months.

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program, we will be providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Kenya support the COVID-19 response in the areas of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Healthcare waste management and Supply Chain Preparedness for Emergency response.

Under the supervision of the Country Project Director, the Technical Advisor will provide additional technical support to the MTaPS team to deliver immediate technical assistance to the MoH as the country braces up for a COVID-19 outbreak. This scope includes work that will be done at the national, county and health facility level, especially in hospitals that are likely to receive COVID-19 patients to promote good infection prevention & control practices, prepare them for medical waste management. Capacity building will be done for alternative healthcare facilities for isolation and quarantine of COVID-19 suspected cases.

Key result areas;

• Conduct a rapid situational analysis of the healthcare waste management situation in designated healthcare facilities -work closely with other MTaPS team members to conduct a rapid analysis of healthcare waste management situation in the selected treatment facilities, quarantine and isolation units designated for COVID-19 emergency response
• Assess the quarantine and isolation units identified in COVID-19 referral hospitals (public and private) for infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare waste management (HCWM) preparedness
• Support the revision or development of facility emergency management plans - W ork 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 quarantine and isolation facility to ensure that facilities have up-to-date emergency management plans, protocols and teams
• Develop guidelines, SOPs and standards for IPC and HCWM during COVID-19 emergency- S/he will work with the Health Facility Development Bureau and other technical departments of the MoH to develop, adapt or revise supporting documents to enhance facility level readiness
• Coordinate training on infection prevention and control and healthcare waste management within the context of COVID-19 in health facilities- In collaboration with other technical experts on IPC, provide technical assistance to the MoH and the pool of national trainers to train health workers at designated health facilities (public and private), likely to receive patients infected with COVID-19 and to strengthen the overall IPC and HCWM competencies and emergency management preparedness
• Support hospitals to activate facility emergency plans in case of outbreak- A ssist the national COVID-19 Emergency Management Task Force and facility teams to activate the facility IPC/HCWM 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
   

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor of Medicine ( MD), Infectious disease, Virology, Laboratory sciences or senior nursing expertise with understanding of mode of infection transmission and prevention. Degree, diploma or certification in field epidemiology, disease control, global health or any related field. At least 5 year 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 around COVID-19 emergency response. Demonstrated past experience in emergency management and supporting national level coordination. S/he should have a good mastery of the Kenyan health system, working with counties and health facilities.

In addition, s/he should 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.