Scope of Work (also available in PDF format)
Country: Ethiopia
Placement site: TBD
Assignment Title: Infection Prevention Practitioner
Assignment code: ETH-005
Length of assignment: 3-6 months (Full time)
For additional information, please view our PowerPoint presentation, “Ethiopian Diaspora Volunteer Program: Strengthening the Ties with the Ethiopian Diaspora to Fight HIV/AIDS”. Also refer to NEPID.org for additional information.
OVERVIEW OF VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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Over the past few decades, Infection Prevention (IP) had been one of the neglected areas at all levels of Ethiopia’s healthcare system. In the last 4-5 years, however, more attention has been directed at preventing infections at healthcare facilities in Ethiopia and significant progress has been made. Different governmental and nongovernmental organizations have played crucial roles in training health professionals on infection prevention, injection safety, and blood safety. These efforts show that the government recognizes the importance of protecting healthcare providers, clients/patients, and the community from nosocomial infections that all too often result from poor infection control practices.
At the request of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health; CDC/Ethiopia; and JHPIEGO, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, have assisted the development, adaptation, printing, and dissemination of National Infection Prevention Guidelines. A core group of IP trainers have also been trained by JHPIEGO to assist in nationalizing and sustaining the Infection Prevention program. IP working groups have been established in hospitals supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In addition, a 5-year nationwide injection safety strategic plan has been developed for Ethiopia and a draft of the National Medical Waste Management Guidelines is near finalization.
IP supplies have remained a chronic challenge for improving provider performance at all sites where IP is implemented. Lack of program ownership and a strong system to plan, monitor, and evaluate IP practices and processes have been additional challenges. It is believed that such a system will enable health institutions to understand the true scope of the problem, identify gaps, and address different critical issues in order to make health facilitates safer places to work.
The IP Volunteer will work closely with hospital staff to develop a responsive system to improve the Infection Prevention and Control program at the selected site that could possibly be replicated at other similar healthcare facilities throughout the country.
Length of Assignment: 3-6 months
Name and title of supervisor: To be determined
Name and title of counterpart/collaborators: To be determined
Volunteer Qualifications:
Required:
- BsN, MD, Bachelors, or postgraduate degree in Infection Prevention and Control
- Minimum of 3 years work experience working directly for, or closely with, an Infection Control department in a healthcare setting
- Experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation of IP practices and processes in healthcare settings
- Experience in providing training and hands-on support in IP
- Experience in setting standards for performance and regularly mentoring staff to improve performance
- Adequate knowledge and skills in relation to behavior change communication
- Good communication skills and fluency in English and Amharic
Preferred:
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Previous experience in working with diverse professionals
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop cooperative working relationships
- Experience developing/implementing successful IP programs in resource-constrained settings
- Experience working closely with high-level government officials
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OBJECTIVE OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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Objective
The objective of the Infection Control Practitioner is to develop and implement a system for improved IP practices in a hospital setting and increase the capacity of selected healthcare facilities to implement recommended IP practices.
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT
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Volunteer responsibilities:
- Prepare work plan/schedule based on the given Scope of Work
- Assess IP gaps/needs at selected health institutions
- Discuss findings and specific requirements with concerned bodies
- Work with staff to develop and institutionalize a system that incorporates appropriate IP practices into hospital operations and is sustainable given existing resources
- Build the capacity of health facilities through training and designing a system for monitoring and evaluation of recommended IP practices and processes
- Define roles and responsibilities of hospital IP point person and IP working group/committee
- Identify organizations and other relevant bodies that could potentially provide IP supplies and work with them to develop a joint scheme of leveraging resources to maintaining continuous supply of necessary materials
- Work with hospital staff to ensure most rational use of supplies and develop an effective system for monitoring and utilizing IP resources to the fullest extent
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EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNED
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Deliverables:
- Detailed Work plan, including time frames
- Documented IP gaps/needs assessment
- Documented suggestions for developing a successful IP program a selected healthcare facilities
- Monitoring and evaluation tool and framework for healthcare facility IP program
- Creation of a hospital Infection Prevention Committee that develops a set of suggestions and methods of sustaining the committee and IP activities after the volunteer leaves
- Strategy for ensuring sustainable supply of IP materials
- Final activity report
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS
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Volunteer:
- Complete the scope of work in the timeframe outlined
- Complete the Twinning Center’s monitoring and evaluation report monthly
- Adhere to the AIHA Volunteer Standards of Conduct
Placement organization/institution:
- Provide resources necessary for volunteer to carry out his/her assignment successfully
- Identify a placement site counterpart for the volunteer to ensure sustainability of volunteer activities
- Submit regular performance assessment reports on the volunteer to the Twinning Center
AIHA Twinning Center:
- Conduct pre-assignment orientation and training to volunteer and placement site
- Provide volunteer with safe housing, monthly living allowance, medical evacuation coverage, and travel-related costs to and from placement site
- Provide ongoing support of volunteer as needed
To apply for this position, please complete the VHC Application Form.
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