1. Purpose of the Consultancy
The Clinical Standards Specialist will support the development of trauma care programmes across the geographical priority areas care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The Clinical Trauma Specialist will be responsible for improving the quality of care through training, mentorship and guidance to healthcare works and WHO in-country staff.
The Clinical Trauma Specialist will predominantly focus on direct support to Somalia and oPt, and with some support to Syria, Sudan and Libya.
2. Background
There are over 133.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance globally, with 80% of that need driven by violent conflict. The Eastern Mediterranean is the most affected region, with 74.8 million in need, representing 56% of the global total.[1] These complex emergencies have also impacted neighbouring countries, either directly or indirectly. Surging migrant and refugee populations further increase the demands on emergency and trauma systems, while the political context and bureaucratic constraints applied by local authorities can constrain strategic and system planning.
Violent injury contributes a substantial disease burden in the region, especially in the on-going conflicts in Libya, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. High incidence of violent injury requires sophisticated and well-resourced response mechanisms, placing enormous strains on already under-resourced and over-burdened health systems. But traditionally, only a very small number of humanitarian agencies have developed capacities for providing trauma care in conflict settings. Most humanitarian health agencies have not prioritized injury care in conflict because of mandate issues, security concerns and capacity and resource gaps; when non-specialized agencies do engage, it is too often uncoordinated and inconsistent with international standards. But the growing burden of trauma in current-day humanitarian emergencies can no longer be ignored. In several recent major humanitarian operations, WHO therefore has stepped in to lead and coordinate the trauma response.
In spite of the demonstrated effectiveness of WHOs interventions, implementation of trauma services that apply best practice referral pathways and clinical care remains ad hoc and unpredictable, dependent on the technical and financial resources available at the time. WHO is committed to ensure that effective trauma services are consistently established during humanitarian emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and to use these services to build the longer-term resilience of emergency medical systems.
The WHO has recently established the Operational Trauma Initiative, which aims to measurably improve health outcomes from trauma driven by humanitarian emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). As a new approach to working in humanitarian emergencies, at the heart of this initiative is a small, specialized Trauma Operational & Advisory Team (TOpAT). The TOpAT is a mobile team that works in humanitarian emergencies and provides both technical direction, and hands- on support. In some countries, where the needs are particularly high, the TOpAT will be complimented by a dedicated focal point in-country; an extension of the TOpAT. All of the interventions are judged by their ability to positively impact trauma patient outcomes.
3. Planned timelines
The consultant is expected to work full time beginning on the 1st February until the 31st December 2022.
4. Work to be performed: Consultant will be responsible for the following key outputs:
Output 1. Lead on clinical processes and improvement of trauma care standards at the country level **
· Deliverable 1.1. Design and deliver a course on physiological monitoring to healthcare workers across the EMR, alongside the procurement and delivery of the monitoring kit to selected countries.
· Deliverable 1.2. Deliver training on mass casualty management (MCM) including the TOT training for the priority countries and the design and delivery of the MCM kit
· Deliverable 1.3. Support the design and delivery of DCR/DCS training delivered remotely or in-person
· Deliverable 1.4 Contribute to the publication of trauma related material, in scholarly literature and the media
· Deliverable 1.5 Lead the development of communities of practice for the priority countries
1. Duration and Remuneration (exclusive of per diem, travel costs or other expenses)
Start date: 1st February – 31st December
2. Specific requirements
Required criteria:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in trauma care services in medicine, nursing, or as a paramedic
- Must be currently licensed to practice by a recognised professional body
- Experience of delivering training in trauma
- Advanced level of written and spoken English language
Desirable criteria
- Experience of mass casualty management response and conflict trauma
Other competencies:
· Proficiency in English is mandatory.
3. Place of assignment
The Consultant may be requested to travel to countries.
4. Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel, including for taking up assignment, according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:
How to apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter to halimahs@who.int