Infection Prevention and Control Officer

Mission and objectivesFounded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. The WHO's mandate seeks and includes working worldwide to promote health, keeping the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. It advocates that a billion more people should have: universal health care coverage, engagement with the monitoring of public health risks, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting health and well-being. It provides technical assistance to countries, sets international health standards, and collects data on global health issues.

ContextIn the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), at the country level, the incumbent will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and partners on organizational and operational aspects of a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme activities, at the district level. S/he will manage IPC activities to ensure alignment with the WHO recommended standards for IPC, monitor, and ensure accountability of the implementation of the WHO IPC programme activities throughout the full cycle of incident management. Reporting to the WHO Health Emergencies (EPR) Lead and under the leadership of the Head of WHO Country Office, S/he will work closely with the other members of the Incident Management and Country office team and the technical leads, at the three levels of the organization to ensure full compliance with WHO rules, regulations, procedures and donors’ agreements for all activities pertaining to the emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities. The incumbent will act as an IPC specialist at the district level. S/he will manage the IPC component of the incident management system, assessment, support the revision and update of the IPC measures and practices, and provide technical guidance to the MOH and partners. Engagement of an IPC Officer demonstrates commitment of WHO Uganda to ensure prompt confirmation of infectious hazards to support its containment in line IHR (2005) requirements.

Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of the Health Emergencies (EPR) Lead, the UN Volunteer will perform the tasks below; • Output 1: Guide assessment of IPC practices in the health care facilities and ensure compliance with the IPC requirements for patient and staff safety. Identify action plans and priorities for improvement and prepare a written report according to WHO templates in collaboration with local MOH authorities and partners. Provide technical recommendations to partners and key players to achieve improvement actions and monitor implementation. Deliverable 1.1: Daily chart log of IPC gaps, action plans and priorities for improvement. This should be a product of daily in-depth review of IPC compliance observations. Deliverable 1.2: Daily IPC compliance reports. Deliverable 1.3: Regular attendance and participation in sub-committee meetings. • Output 2: According to local needs and requests, review the IPC measures implemented and advice on prevention of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings. Deliverable 2.1: Reports on existing measures and strategies to address gaps. • Output 3: Conduct IPC supervision and mentorship of staff at hospitals and health facilities that host the Isolation centre. Deliverable 3.1: Isolation centre-specific IPC improvement action plan. Deliverable 3.2: Mentorship report. • Output 4: Provide adherence guidance to clinicians during donning, doffing and ward environmental hygiene. Deliverable 4.1: Daily Isolation center adherence report. • Output 5: Provide guidance on immediate IPC policies, resources, equipment and training needed for Isolation of infectious patients, with due consideration for the context of implementation. Deliverable 5.1: Availability for SOPs and checklist for IPC compliance. Deliverable 5.2: Comprehensive list of resources, equipment. • Output 6: Coordinate and guide IPC case management team members according to assessed/agreed needs and priorities Deliverable 6.1: IPC compliance at 100% for all the indicators at the Isolation centres. Deliverable 6.2: Improved IPC indications; 5 moments of hand washing. • Output 7: Guide Ambulance teams on disinfection techniques and ensure that systems exist for consistent disinfection of ambulance. Deliverable 7.1: Clear SOPs on disinfection. Deliverable 7.2: Adherence report. • Output 8: Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor. • Output 9: Monitor Infection rates among health workers involved in outbreak response. Deliverable 9.1: To guide administration of Health worker risk assessment at regular intervals to all health workers involved in care infectious diseases treatment centres during outbreaks. Deliverable: 9.2: To coordinate with the ministry of health and the WHO IPC and case management technical leads to conduct regular testing of health workers involve in the outbreak response.

Competencies and values1) Teamwork 2) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences 3) Communication 4) Producing Results 5) Moving forward in a changing environment 6) Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond

Living conditions and remarksUganda is a peaceful country, although everyone is advised to be security conscious. The volunteers will be based in WHO field offices. The volunteers will arrange there own accommodation.