Project Name:  COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A),

Consultant role: Laboratory Advisor

Period of Performance: December 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022

Technical Supervisor:  Alaine Umubyeyi Nyaruhirira, Principal Technical Advisor for Laboratory Services

Administrative Supervisor:  Senior Laboratory Advisor (Central)

Background: 

Before COVID-19, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death from an infectious disease globally. Although great improvements have been made over the past several years to find and treat TB in the highest burden countries, there was a drastic decline in diagnosis and treatment of TB in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar disruptions of HIV prevention and treatment have been reported. However, decades of experience combatting both diseases offer myriad testing and treatment strategies and adaptations with potential for accelerating the COVID-19 response. Urgent support is required to control COVID-19, ensure that essential health services for people living with TB, HIV and other infectious diseases are maintained, and to prevent further disruptions to case finding and treatment.

FIND, co-lead of the Diagnostics Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), is working to reduce death and severe disease through the accelerated development, equitable allocation, and scaled up delivery of COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. Primary goals of the Diagnostics Pillar include:

1. All countries able to deploy affordable, quality point-of-care tests
2. Significant number of LMICs supported to put in place effective test-trace-isolate strategies
3. Minimized disruption of core health service

Management Sciences for Health (MSH)—a global nonprofit organization with more than 50 years of experience in more than 150 countries, is a partner with FIND in driving a nine-month activity in Ethiopia to increase COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and PCR capacity building with its established laboratory network, in coordination with the country’s COVID-19 response team and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with resources from ACT-A catalytic funding. 

Description of Technical Assistance (TA) services to be provided

The SOW is to support the MSH/FIND ACT-A project in Ethiopia to implement the following main program activities in 15 health facilities in 5 regions:

• Expand uptake of existing and validated RDTs (Lumira Dx, PanBio COVID-19, Ag Test -Abbott, SD Biosensor) and its quality assurance
• Leverage existing country COVID -19 plan with expansion of training capacity for RDTs uses
• Access to integrated referral system to PCR lab
• Integrated algorithm for simultaneous detection of TB/ COVID-19
• Strengthens quantification, and procurement of PPE, PCR reagents and RDTs by creating the demand
• Reinforce infection prevention and control (IPC) measures
• Reinforce linkage between COVID-19 sites for better surveillance and reporting

The Laboratory Advisor consultant is responsible in supporting the national EPHI in collaboration with all Senior and Regional Lab Advisors working with the USAID Eliminate TB Project at reference laboratories and regional laboratories in strengthening the uptake of RDTs and PCR tests to improve the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 in an integrated approaches using existing TB/HIV, Malaria lab networks in collaboration with the COVID-19 response task force and EPHI.

The consultant, in collaboration with the USAID Eliminate TB Project and EPHI, will support to create the demand for RDTs at all levels according to World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last guidelines revised to protect health workers, communities, establish a network with PCR testing sites, and ensure access to testing and diagnostic capacity, PPE for better management of COVID-19, and patient treatment outcomes in Ethiopia. The consultant also advises and supports the implementation of rapid and new diagnostic algorithm, referral system building on country capacity and investment done with other diseases program.

TA objectives

1. To support MSH/FIND ACT-A project to increase COVID-19 RDTs and PCR capacity in selected 15 health facilities in 5 regions
2. To provide TA to develop and strengthen models for sustainable early-warning and response systems to minimize disruption to other essential health services

Activities and Deliverables

1. Advise and support development and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for PCR and RDTs based on guidelines developed by EPHI and the COVID-19 task force
2. Work with Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency (EPSA) PSM in forecasting and procurement of supplies in coordination with the Ethiopia COVID-19 task force and FIND during the project time ensuring access to timely quality COVID-19 lab services
3. Maintain close communication with NTP, EPHI, RTRLs, RPHIs and other technical partners involved in the COVID-19 response
4. Provide technical advice to the EPHI/RPHIs/RTRLs on all matters pertaining to surveillance of COVID-19 data collected coming from supported sites
5. Provide technical advice and expertise on the implementation of the new release COVID-19 laboratory guidance and tools
6. Continuously support transfer of skills and knowledge on COVID-19 rapid testing to laboratory technologists and any other laboratory staff as relevant
7. Participate in laboratory TWGs, and all meeting related to laboratory supplies to ensure no stock out during the project period
8. Contribute to the reporting of data at the country level (National Dashboard) and monthly, quarterly report to the funder (FIND)

Job Requirements

Qualifications

• At least Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences or equivalent
• At least 6 years of work experience in a medical diagnostic laboratory
• Knowledge in mycobacterial, HIV, malaria and other diseases identification using different techniques
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the public health and clinical functions of a National and Regional Reference Laboratories with peer review publication in laboratory related area will be an added value
• Knowledge in using molecular testing and related to COVID-19 will be an added value
• Experience with laboratory information systems, referral and quality management system is an important advantage
• Knowledge in Laboratory Quality Assurance, and strong experience of instituting good lab practice
• Operational research experience and publication in peer reviewed journals is an advantage
• Previous experience with FIND project is an advantage
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English

How to Apply

Qualified Applicants can apply through the link below:-

CLICK HERE