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Qualifications

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1.       Area of expertise:  Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Technical Officer.

2.       Purpose of consultancy

To support the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) in the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance reduction initiatives through the implementation of the Fleming Fund Phase Two Project in Sierra Leone.

3.       Background  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health concern that affects everyone everywhere with women and children at increasing risk of suffering and dying from it. It threatens the very core of modern medicine and the sustainability of an effective global public health response to the enduring threat of infectious diseases. AMR increases healthcare costs for both hospital managers and patients, lengthens hospital stays, increases healthcare-associated infections, poor patient outcomes, and increases mortality.

In response to this crisis, the May 2015 World Health Assembly adopted a global action plan on AMR, which outlines five strategic objectives: To improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education, and training; To strengthen the knowledge and evidence base through surveillance and research; To reduce the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures; To optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health; To develop the economic case for sustainable investment that takes account of the needs of all countries and to increase investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other interventions. As the blueprint document, Sierra Leone has a national action plan that aligns with the objectives of the global action plan.

In 2017, 700, 000 deaths were attributed to AMR, and it was projected that 10 million people would die of AMR if urgent actions were not taken. The recently published GRAM study stated that in 2019 alone, 5 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR, including 1.27 million deaths attributed to bacterial AMR. This suggested that the 2017 O’Neill report might be an underestimation of AMR-associated deaths. Effective antimicrobial drugs are prerequisites for preventive and curative measures, protecting patients from potentially fatal diseases and ensuring that complex procedures, such as surgery and chemotherapy, can be provided at low risk. Yet systematic misuse and overuse of these agents in human medicine and other sectors have put every country at risk, with low-income settings like Sierra Leone at increased risk.

Evidence has shown that the major contributor to AMR is the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents especially antibiotics. Although most antimicrobial agent use occurs at the community level, the intensity of use in healthcare facilities is far higher; hospitals are therefore particularly important in the containment of AMR. Therefore, healthcare facilities should develop integrated approaches to improving the use of antimicrobials, reducing the incidence and spread of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, and linking the required training of clinicians and the allocation of resources to effective surveillance, infection prevention and control, and therapeutic support. With this in mind, there must be effective antimicrobial stewardship initiatives at national, sub-national, and health facility levels to ensure the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.

4.       Deliverables

Scope of work

o            Facilitate the implementation of the Fleming Fund AMR project at the national, subnational, and health facilities level

o            Coordinate and facilitate the Fleming Fund monthly grantee meeting and any other Adhoc meetings

o            Participate in the preparation of Fleming Fund monthly and quarterly AMR activity and donor reports for submission to Mott Macdonald and other agencies

o            Provide technical and operational support to the national AMR programme in the implementation of proven public health intervention to reduce the AMR burden and ensure rational prescribing of antimicrobial agents at healthcare facilities

o            Facilitate the adoption/adaption of global AMS and AMR policies, strategies, and guidelines to fit local context

o            Support AMU/C/R surveillance activities that are implemented at health facilities

o            Facilitate AMS and AMR training for healthcare professionals at the Fleming Fund-supported healthcare facilities

o            Ensure the functionality of the AMS and AMR coordination platforms including technical working groups

o            Facilitate the commemoration of the annual World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) and other awareness-raising activities to increase the knowledge of AMR and AMS among everyone across the life course

o            Facilitate mentorship and coaching for health care professionals to ensure rational use of antimicrobial agents at Fleming Fund-supported sites

o            Support and participate in the conduct of operational research including annual Point Prevalence Surveys, clinical audits, and other quality improvement initiatives at Fleming Fund-supported sites

o            Carry out any other duty assigned by the supervisor

Deliverables

•            Effective implementation of the Fleming Fund project at national, sub-national and health facility levels

•            Established antimicrobial stewardship programmes at Fleming Fund-supported healthcare facilities

•            Adopt. Adapt relevant AMU/C/R strategy, guidelines, and standard operating procedures

•            Updated national action plan to combat AMR in Sierra Leone

•            Conduct regular training, mentorship, and coaching for healthcare workers on AMR, AMS, and other initiatives

•            Coordinate monthly grantee meetings and any other  Adhoc meeting

•            Established coordination platforms to ensure effective implementation of AMS and AMR reduction initiatives

•            Prepare and submit high-quality active technical reports including the  monthly and quarterly MottMacdonalds reports

•            Conducts operational research especially annual point prevalence surveys on antibiotic use

•            Commemoration World AMR Awareness Week (WAA) and other relevant campaigns

5.       Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential

•            First degree in medicine, pharmacy, or public health from a recognized University

Desirable

•            Advanced university degree (Masters level) in medicine, pharmacy, public health, microbiology or AMR from a recognized University.

•            An advance degree (MSc) in microbiology is desirable

Experience  

Essential:

• •         At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public health activities implementation

•            Demonstrated experience in health programming, health services delivery, and monitoring and evaluation in low-resource settings

•            Sound knowledge in

•            Expertise in  antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial resistance reduction, infection prevention and control, micro and quality improvement initiatives

•            Strong communication and facilitation skills

•            Excellent report-writing skills

•            Able to work effectively in diverse environments and teams.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

·       Have a perfect mastery of the computer tool (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database).

·       Have a mastery of at least one software for the analysis of statistical data (SPSS, STATA, SAS, or others).

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Mastery of the English language and good report writing skills

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements