The Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program

Recruitment of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program Advisor for COVID-19 Response by Community Pharmacies

Background:

Pharmacies are staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide essential services to the public, such as dispensing medicines and selling infection prevention commodities. Many patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma need to get a constant supply of their medicines from pharmacies to maintain their health. Furthermore, pharmacists working in community pharmacies are easily accessible to the public and serve as a major source of information for COVID-19 related queries.

The USAID-funded MTaPS Program, implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), is collaborating with the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association (EPA) to enhance the role played by community pharmacies in the prevention and containment of the COVID-19 infection.

To this end, MTaPS would like to recruit a consultant who, in collaboration with EPA and MTaPS, will conduct virtual trainings, seminars and mentoring for pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Addis Ababa and the regions with the aim to implement IPC guidelines and SOPs to prevent and contain COVID-19 infection. He/she will adapt existing training materials for this purpose.

Purpose:

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to community pharmacies to enhance their role in COVID-19 prevention and control, with special emphasis on infection prevention and control (IPC), and extend community pharmacy services to minimize risk of COVID-19 infection among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

Scope of Work:

• Prevent COVID-19 infection among pharmacists and clients in the premises of pharmacies
• Extend community pharmacy services, especially home delivery of refill prescriptions for patients on chronic medication (those receiving antihypertensive, anti-asthmatic, antidiabetic, etc. agents)
• Promote proper use of non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical COVID-19 products by community pharmacies
• Conduct rapid situational analysis of community pharmacy readiness to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic
• In collaboration with MTaPS and EPA adapt and implement virtual learning methods to update knowledge of community pharmacists throughout the country
• Develop/adapt/adopt Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for community pharmacy infection prevention in the context of COVID-19
• Build the capacity of community pharmacists to enhance their contribution to the fight against COVID-19:
  • educate the public about infection prevention and control, including waste disposal
  • properly council the public on the use of personal protective equipment (face masks, gloves) and the proper use of soaps, disinfectants and sanitizers 
  • ready pharmacists to identify suspected COVID-19 cases (especially during a COVID-19 surge) and help in triaging such cases

Deliverables:

• Community pharmacy assessment report on COVID-19 emergency preparedness and gaps identified
• Rapid improvement plan to effectively implement and sustain IPC practice for COVID-19
• Implementation of WHO/CDC/EPHI and other approved Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for IPC by community pharmacies
• Facility ongoing compliance monitoring /self-assessment checklists
• Job aids for community pharmacists
• Implementation of home delivery of refill prescriptions for groups of patients on chronic medication

Duration of contract:

• The consultancy is a three-month contract for the period from June 10, 2020 to September 30^th, 2020.

Qualification/Requirements:

This work requires expertise in infection prevention and control (IPC), disease outbreak management and skills in capacity building of healthcare workers.

• A graduate degree in pharmacy or Pharm D, MPH or MD
• Experience in at least one or a combination of the following areas for a minimum of 7 years: work in community or public pharmacy, drug import/distribution, social pharmacy or control/inspection/manufacturing, clinical services. Evidence of experience related to pharmacoepidemiology or infection prevention and control (IPC) or clinical pharmacy preferred
• evidence of successful completion of a pharmaceutical or public health consultation assignment
• Knowledge of the Ethiopian pharmaceutical service; knowledge of the operation of community pharmacies is an advantage
• Experience in adult learning methods using virtual/distance course delivery methods
• A good knowledge of the Ethiopian health system 
• Willingness to work with different stakeholders during an epidemic to save lives
• Willingness to travel to the regions if requested to do so