Country: Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
Closing date: 18 Apr 2019
The consultant will report to and be guided by the WHO Country Office. In collaboration with the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Ministry of Health (MoH) of Lao PDR, and the WHO Health Emergency (WHE) and Health System Development teams, the consultant will conduct the following activities and submit regular reports for each activity, including proposed next steps:
- Provide technical assistance to Lao MoH to implement a structured AMR surveillance system in collaboration with the WHE and Health Systems & Social Determinants of Health teams
- Develop training materials for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens and susceptibility testing of identified bacterial pathogens, and all related documents such as bench aids and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory staff in NCLE and the other selected laboratories and deliver trainings.
- Provide technical assistance to the bacteriology laboratory in NCLE and selected laboratories in bacterial culture of clinical specimens by using appropriate culture media, identification of isolated microorganism using different biochemical tests and procedures, serologic typing sera, susceptibility testing of identified bacteria and molecular identification of bacteria.
- Assist the bacteriology laboratory in NCLE in the management of the National External Quality Assessment Program for microbiology.
- Assist the bacteriology laboratory in NCLE in the implementation of techniques for characterization of bacterial resistance mechanisms.
- Support bacteriology laboratory in NCLE and selected laboratories in implementing of biosafety and laboratory quality management systems to build the capacity of laboratories to meet the National Quality Standards.
- Assist NCLE and AMR surveillance site laboratories in AMR data entry and management in WHONET.
Education:
Essential: The consultant should have a bachelor level degree in clinical microbiology or related degree in medical technology or microbiology with the focus on laboratory diagnostics for infectious diseases including medical microbiology diagnostic, clinical laboratory diagnostic, serology and molecular biology.
Experience:
Essential: The consultant should have at least five years’ substantial work experience in medical bacteriology diagnostics and implementing and managing laboratory biosafety and quality management systems and in providing laboratory trainings.
Desirable: Public health or clinical diagnostic laboratory experience
Languages: Advenced level of written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of local language (speaking) is an advantage.
How to apply:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit applications and curriculum vitae in the English language with a subject "Short Term Consultant: Bacteriologist (Anti-Microbial Resistance [AMR]) Programme to the below address by 18 April 2019.
The World Health Organization
125 Saphanthong Road, Unit: 5
Ban Saphanthongtai, P.O. Box 343
Vientiane, Lao P.D.R.
Tel: (856-21)353902-04;
Fax: (856-21)353905;
Email: wplaohr@who.int