Democratic Republic of the Congo: IRC-Infection Prevention and Control Mentor

CANADEM is seeking seasoned French-speaking medical professionals with previous relevant experience with Infection Prevention and Control Mentoring (Ebola response) who are available for an immediate deployment to Mbandaka, DRC to work with IRC Emergency Unit for a 6 weeks (possible extension up to 3 months) contract.

IRC Emergency Unit
Position: Infection Prevention and Control Mentor
Location: Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Start date: ASAP
Duration: 6 weeks with potential extension up to 3 months
Start date: Immediately, or within 2 weeks from date of offer
· Language: French fluency, intermediate with consider
· Must: Prior Ebola working experience, not just training.
· Housing: Shared
· Health Benefits: Eligible
. Must: Registered Nurse
Background:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. For 80 years, the IRC has been at the forefront of every major humanitarian initiative to assist people uprooted by war, persecution, or civil conflict. The IRC provides lifesaving support to help people survive and re-build their lives, assisting people from harm to home. The IRCs Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) leads the IRC’s Global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the EPRU is to help meet the immediate survival needs and reduce suffering in conflict or disaster affected populations during the acute phase of an emergency.
Context:
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola
(Ebola Virus Disease – EVD) in the Bikoro health zone of Equateur Province, northwest DRC on 8 May

1. As of May 18 there have been 45 cases (14 confirmed, 10 suspected, 21 probable) resulting in 25 deaths. By May 16 the outbreak had spread to the urban area of Mbandaka. The IRC is currently preparing to support the containment of the EVD outbreak in the Equateur region of DRC. The IRC’s primary focus will be to provide support to existing primary health care (PHC) facilities to ensure the safe continuity of services. The IRC’s support will include the establishment of EVD screening and isolation at the PHCs, and support to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) practices across the facility.
   Scope of work
   Reporting to the Health Coordinator, the IPC Mentors will work in collaboration with MoH staff to improve IPC practices and structures within the supported government health facility, providing training and mentorship for healthcare workers.
   Roles and Responsibilities
   · Provide IPC training for health facility staff, including ongoing on-the-job mentorship.
   · Conduct rounds in health facility wards and departments, discussing and monitoring infection control practices with staff.
   · Develop and implement systems for improving IPC across the health facility wards and departments.
   · Establish a system for EVD monitoring on inpatient wards.
   · Work with health facility leadership to establish an IPC committee to plan, develop, implement and evaluate infection prevention and control within the hospitals.
   · Work with the medical logistician and health facility management to develop a system for IPC
   supplies requesting and consumption tracking.
   · Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
   · Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
   · Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
   Requirements
   · Nurse or Nurse Practitioner with current registration with the recognised professional body of your country of residence.
   · At least 4 years’ experience working as a Nurse in a hospital setting with demonstrated experience in infection prevention and control.
   · Demonstrated experience in implementing IPC practices and systems improvement, ideally in a low resource setting.
   · Previous experience working with EVD desirable.
   · Previous experience working with IRC desirable.
   · Demonstrated experience in supervising a team in the strict adherence to infection control.
   · Previous training or teaching experience.
   · Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
   · Ability to live in challenging conditions and ability to work under difficult, high pressure situations.
   · Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure in a stressful environment, displaying patience, compassion and diplomacy.
   · Fluency in French and English.

If you have all of the above-mentioned skills, please register with CANADEM before contacting us. This can be done on our website at www.CANADEM.ca/register. Then send an email no later than the 9th of June , 11:59 pm EDT (applications will be review on a first one first serve basis) to pantiwa.naksomboon@CANADEM.ca with a Subject Line: "IRC-Infection Prevention and Control Mentor ". In your email, please include an updated resume, date of availability, your current location, and a phone number where we can reach you.