Bangladesh: National Consultant – Laboratory Strengthening and Influenza

Objectives of the Programme: The overall objective of the Category 5 is to prevent and control pandemic and epidemic prone diseases in Bangladesh through working with Directorate General Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (DGHS -MOHFW), and Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IECDR) in (i) building appropriate public health policies and programmes for control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; (ii) strengthening field epidemiological capacity for outbreak investigation, detection and response to epidemics and pandemics (iii) improving epidemic forecasting and detection through real-time analysis of outbreak intelligence data on infectious diseases; (iv) ensuring the availability of and access to strategic guidance for detection, verification, risk assessment, communication and public health response to public health emergencies.

Purpose of the activity: The purpose of the post is to provide technical support to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Directorate General Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (DGHS – MOHFW) for smooth implementation of National Avian and Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan and implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Which includes, but not limited to support Regional, National, and Sub-national laboratory strengthening efforts to enhance laboratory capacity for biosurveillance, detection of Public Health Events, support implementation of the national laboratory services policy and strategic plan, coordinate and provide technical support to laboratory partners towards attainment of the laboratory policy objectives; The incumbent is required to be technically independent, and able to work with minimum guidance and certain degree of independence in decision making, with regular contact and coordination with multi – stakeholders, including GoB officials, other UN agencies, Donors, and other International organizations.

Job Description: Under the supervision and general direction of the Team Leader – Health Security and Emergencies, overall supervision of Deputy WHO Representative, and in close collaboration with Regional Advisers, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology (DSE) and Blood Safety and Lab Technologies (BLT), SEARO, the incumbent will provide technical support to the IECDR and DGHS – MOHFW Bangladesh: As facilitator the incumbent will work in close collaboration with other government counterparts, relevant stakeholders, UN organizations and target institutions for smooth implementation of National Avian and Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan and International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). S/He will also provide technical support in making advocacy to the MOHFW and other relevant Ministries and Departments in this regards its need multi – sectoral approach.

1. Assist the IECDR to establish the Public Health Laboratory Network for Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs)

2. Provide support to the IECDR/DGHS/MOHFW to establish the laboratory diagnosis system of EIDs at Medical College ad District hospitals in order to provide feedback to Public Health Laboratory Network for early warning.

3. Participate, monitor, and supervise outbreak investigations on Public Health Emergency of International Concern including seasonal, avian, pandemic and any other noble influenza in collaboration with IEDCR,ICDDR,B, USCDC, and DLS and act as a member of the National Rapid Response Team.

4. Assist National Influenza Centre (NIC)/IECDR in laboratory diagnosis of avian and pandemic influenza and provide feedback to WGO i.e ensure reporting to Flu net/GISRS in timely manner

5. Assist IECDR to develop SOPs on laboratory diagnosis of EIDs and training on developed SOPs to laboratory personnel of the national and district public health laboratories.

6. Assist MOHFW to develop Laboratory Strategy on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

7. Maintain liaison with the ICDDR, B, IECDR, DGHS, MOHFW officials in the national level and Civil Surgeones and Upazilla health Staff in the peripheral level for pandemic preparedness and response.

8. Support the operationalization of an effective and functional laboratory network in the country to support effective patient management, disease surveillance, epidemic investigation, research and other specialized services in line with MOHFW.

9. Close liaison with other stakeholders/ key partners/other UN agencies and donos agencies like World Bank and USAID.

10. Support MOHFW to develop/strengthen laboratory safety standards within all laboratories in respect of space, personnel, clients and the community, including the development of laboratory logistics system to ensure that an effective supply chain management system is in place to provide adequate supplies to support uninterrupted delivery of the services.

11. Support national development of an adequate and skilled human resource to deliver quality laboratory services at all levels.

12. Support laboratories to participate in relevant health research, assessments, and monitoring and evaluation initiatives to improve patient management, laboratory performance and disease control; including supporting laboratories to detect any emerging or transmitted resistances to patient medications.

13. Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor

Required Qualifications: Education :**Essential** Bachelor degree in Medicine or health Science.

Desirable Master’s Degree in Public Health or Infectious Diseases or Microbiology or Virology or related Medical Laboratory science

Advanced training in Medical Laboratory Technology, that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties and responsibilities as described.

Experience in quality and safety standards of laboratory in Communicable Diseases

**Experience:
Essential ** At least five (5) years' experience in medical laboratory services quality and standards or experience in infection control or Antimicrobial Resistance

Desirable Working experience in complex emergency countries and experience of working in the WHO or UN agencies, especially within SEAR countries; experience in management of donor supported projects would be an asset

Functional Knowledge and Skills: High level analytical skills applied to monitoring and evaluation of emerging – remerging infectious diseases programme

Proven ability in preparation of technical reports, proposals, and plans on communicable diseases for donor community and for other international organizations.

Ability to effectively coordinate with partners/donors and collaborative agencies

Competencies: Teamwork  Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication  Producing Results Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Languages: Excellent writing/reporting and editing skills, communication and presentation skills in English and Bengali.

Computer Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office suit, and data analysis tools such as EPI Info, SPSS, SAS, etc; and working knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications.

Annual Salary & others Benefits: Annual Salary Range: BDT B DT 1,215,216/= to BDT 1,490,484/=

Others Benefits WHO Offers locally competitive packages such as:

Health Insurance; Accident and illness insurance  Annual Leave (18 days per year) Sick leave (12 days per year);  WHO and Government Holidays, Compensatory Time Off

NOTE: 1) Applicants should send a brief Resume of their relevant experience, explaining reasons for being suitable of the activity, together with duly completed Personal History Form (PHF), Screening Questions, and scanned copies of educational certificates.

2) Please send your applications only via email to: sebanrecruitment@who.int . The email and the attachment should not be exceeding 1MB. We regret that due to large volume of applications normally received, applications cannot be acknowledged individually.

3) WHO Personal History Form (PHF) and detailed vacancy notice can be downloaded from: http://www.searo.who.int/bangladesh/about/employment/en/

4) A written test using computer and interview will be held only for qualifying candidates.

5) This vacancy is open to Bangladeshi Nationals (all genders) only. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply ."WHO is committed to workforce diversity". “Any attempt to unduly influence on WHO’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.” WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or other tobacco users