1. Purpose of the Consultancy
The Senior Clinical Trauma Advisor will be pivotal in driving the trauma work of the WHO office in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) within the context of the current crisis in Gaza. The incumbent will be expected to support and advise the WHO and MoH on how best to develop sustainable projects that contribute to the management of trauma casualties whilst building the resilience of the health sector. The incumbent will be expected to provide a high-quality technical assistance to the WHO Health Emergency Programme, the Ministry of Health(MoH) and key agencies to deliver high standards of care across the trauma pathway (pre-hospital, hospital, post- and rehabilitation care).**
2. Background
The current context in the OPT remains increasingly fragile, faced with a ‘response deficit’ undermining the health sector. In Gaza, with a population of just over 2million- half of whom are children-and one of the highest population density in the world, conflict related trauma is a major burden of disease in Gaza. In 2018, the world witnessed the mass demonstrations by Palestinians along the perimeter fence with Israel as part of the “Great March of Return”. Since the mass demonstrations began, and until July 31 2019, a cumulative total of 315 people were killed and a total of 30,724 people had been injured by the response of Israeli forces. The numbers are continuing to increase each week.
The current surge in humanitarian needs takes place against a backdrop of an overall extremely precarious humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, expressed through a health system on the verge of collapse and increasing, widespread despair as conditions deteriorate and hope for political solutions diminish. As basic infrastructure continues to chronically decrease the health sector struggles to cope.
Hospitals in Gaza are often overwhelmed by high numbers of patients that suddenly flood the emergency departments as a consequence of airstrikes or Israeli border confrontations. Being able to deal with this patient’s surge is key to guarantee that every person in need receives the highest available care. Hospitals without a proper, drilled, mass casualty plan, and without trained staff and prepositioned supplies are highly vulnerable to this kind of events and have a higher probability of decreasing their levels of service below the minimum accepted standards. Additionally, the level of hygiene and infection control during emergencies is compromised even further, leading to an increased risk of outbreaks during these complex emergency situations. WHO has also found that the lack of data and information flow during emergencies has led to patients being lost in the health system or never returning for their treatment, resulting in severe injury pain and in some cases, later requiring additional corrective surgical interventions.
Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
1st April 2020 - December 2020
Work to be performed: Under the supervision of the Trauma & Emergency Care Manager, the Consultant will be responsible for the following key outputs:
Output 1: Strategic guidance and clinical leadership for WHO’s trauma and emergency programme **
· Deliverable 1.1: Provide strategic guidance on critical gaps and sustainable solutions
· Deliverable 1.2: Support the development of a multi-year strategy for WHOs trauma and emergency care programme
· Deliverable 1.3 Engage with the regional trauma operational and advisory team to support best practice in the oPt and the region
Output 2: Technically guide the development of prehospital activities in the Gaza Strip **
· Deliverable 2.1: Provide oversight and guidance to the prehospital care activities
· Deliverable 2.2: When necessary, provide training and guidance to the MoH
Output 3: Technically guide the development of hospital-based activities working with the emergency care technical officer
· Deliverable 3.1: Provide oversight and guidance to the hospital-based activities
· Deliverable 3.2: When necessary, provide training and guidance to the MoH
Output 4: Provide quality technical clinical coaching to the local staff at the LRU
● Deliverable 4.1 Perform anesthesia during surgical interventions alongside the local counterpart and provide adequate patient post-operative care- in line with international standards.
● Deliverable 4.2 Organize and coordinate and ensure that all required resources are available to conduct safe anesthesia procedures
● Deliverable 4.3. provide technical advice and supports local counterparts to maintain/develop the local capacities and reach international standards through on-job training and theoretical training.
● Deliverable 4.4. In coordination with the MoH, ensure the availability of all necessary materials, drugs, and consumables to perform safe anesthesia during emergencies.
● Deliverable 4.5 Identify patients that would benefit from regional anesthesia, perform regional anesthesia according to international standards and provide clinical coaching for local medical personnel on regional anesthesia.
5. Technical Supervision
The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of of the Project Management Officer and the Trauma & Emergency Care Manager.
6. Specific requirements
Education
● Degree in Medicine and a specialization in Anesthesia
● A valid licence to practise in your country of residence
Experience
● Significant experience in the management of emergencies and trauma cases
● Able to perform general and local anaesthesia autonomously
● Able to develop and supervise local capacity for anaesthesia and post-operative care
● Fluency in English
● Computer literacy
● Definitive Anesthesia Trauma Care Course accreditation and/or training experience will be considered an asset
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
● Experience designing and delivering training and implementing capacity building plans
● Strong presentation skills
● Supportive of team work and collective approach
● Proven ability to translate requirements into working solutions
● Demonstrated ability to analyse data and statistics
● Ability to work to meet tight schedules under stressful environment and multi-cultural context
● Ability to work in demanding physical and cultural context with governmental partners and other implementing partners, under challenging physical conditions and poor national infrastructure
● Highly motivated with a positive attitude and pro-active problem-solving approach
● Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
● Ability to interpret, analyze and resolve problems
● Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned and best practices into business process routines
● Demonstration of professional behaviour and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues in the workplace
Language requirements:
Good knowledge of English. Knowledge of Arabic would be an asset.
7. Place of assignment
Office-based consultancy in the Jerusalem with regular travel to Gaza.
8. Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
How to apply:
Please send a cover letter and CV to:
Hazem Khweis, khwaish@who.int before the 20th March 2020 16.00 Jerusalem.