Afghanistan: Consultant for Hospital Emergency Preparedness/Management and Response
Country: Afghanistan
Closing date: 18 Sep 2013
Background:
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international group of agencies established in Europe, North America, South and Central Asia to complement the provision of emergency relief, principally in the developing world. It helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid and facilitates their transition to sustainable self-reliant, long-term development. FOCUS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network.
Introduction:
Hospitals, health facilities and health services are a community’s lifeline in normal times and are especially critical in times of disaster. Yet time and again, they have been severely damaged and unable to function in the aftermath of disasters. There are countless examples of health infrastructure, from sophisticated hospitals to small but vital health centers that have been rendered unusable after a disaster. In December 2004, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean destroyed 61% of the health facilities in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. In the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, 50% of the health facilities in affected areas were completely destroyed.
The destruction of a hospital has an adverse impact on emergency response. Construction, and re-construction, of health facilities presents both an opportunity as well as cause for concern. There is danger that infrastructure would be built which is not disaster resilient. This investment is a lost investment, as after the next disaster the infrastructure would not be functional. Looking into such examples of catastrophic impacts of natural disasters across worldwide as well as more specifically in Afghanistan on health facilities in purview of its geo-tectonic setting and fragility of health infrastructures Focus Humanitarian Assistance Afghanistan decided to intervene with a comprehensive approach in hospital preparedness.
A venture has been designed to model the comprehensive hospital emergency preparedness and response which includes hazards, vulnerability and capacity assessment, train the staff in incident command system (ICS), establish internal and external coordination mechanism such as Emergency operation center with in the facility (EOC), mass casualty management drills develop safety guidelines, standard operating procedures etc. Existing emergency preparedness and response plans will be reviewed and training module will be developed and impart training to primary stakeholders to rehears the plan and SOPs as well as guidelines. Then all relevant material will be handed over to respective facilities to institutionalize and further share, build capacity at local level extensions in a sustainable manner.
A subject specialist (consultant) will be hired to lead the assignment with scope defined below to produce deliverables listed.
Job Objectives
The overarching objective of the Hospital Emergency Preparedness/management training, mass causality management drills and facility emergency preparedness and response plan is to mainstream DRR into hospital preparedness and response: save maximum lives of patients, staff, and visitors and protect the investment (in Pharmaceuticals, equipment and furnishings) and the performance of the health facility during an emergency.
Specific Objectives of the Assignment
• To aware, sensitize and train the hospital management about the potential emergencies and related preparedness• To develop and in place a Hospital Emergency Preparedness/Management and Response Plan and standard Operating Procedures to keep emergency operation smooth, respond effectively to events that pose an immediate danger to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors.• To ensure prompt and effective medical care of the patients/victims,• To optimally prepare the stakeholders and institutional resources to keep Hospital functional to cope with massive influx of victim during massive destruction due to natural calamity in the region, and • To minimize morbidity and mortality resulting from an emergency.
Primary Tasks
• Review the existing health emergency preparedness and management policy, plans and SOPs• Analyze the problems within and in the surroundings of the facility. These problem may include organizational, administrative, resources and environmental etc• Evaluate existing coordination mechanism among main stakeholders• Evaluate Capabilities for technical planning, program implementation,(training, research and logistical support) in the hospital.• Develop a management structure and their roles and responsibilities to ensure the smooth function of the facility during and post emergency situation• Overall standards of training are identified and disseminated to all parts of the health care system and a significant amount of training is delivered through realistic exercises and drills• Develop guidelines and standard Operating Procedures for hospital emergency preparedness/management and response, Mass Causality Management as well as Incident Command System.• Develop hospital safety guidelines in a way that could be adopted for other facilities as well• Submit an inception report stating proposed methodology, work plan, and list of expected outcome in purview of ToR after award of assignment. After approval of inception report by Focus and AKHS the consultant will commence the actual assessment. The inception report will be approved by the authority and serve as the tools for monitoring and evaluation of consultant’s performance.
In order to meet the above objectives and accomplish the assignment, tasks are categorized into three main sections.
Section –A: - Emergency Preparedness/Management & response plan
The Emergency Management Plan will be designed to assure appropriate, effective response to a variety of emergency situations that could affect the safety of patients, staff, and visitors, or the environment of the facility which adversely impact upon the hospital’s ability to provide health care services to the community. Plan should be formulated through collaborative planning and interaction with Aga Khan Health Services, Ministry of public health and Provincial ANDMA.
Key Tasks • Review the existing contingency/ hospital safety plans and Standard Operating Procedures developed by the hospital.• Conduct hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment to assess the impact of likely emergencies in the region. • Emergency Preparedness/Management and response Plan should clearly define the process for initiation and implementation of that plan. The description should include the command structure (Rapid Response Team) with in Incident Command System for the plan, the conditions requiring activation of the plan, and the individual(s) responsible for implementation of the plan.• Explain leadership and Incident Command System (ICS), Identify and assign roles and responsibilities that who will be responsible for what and how to and who will notify Governmental line authorities. At the same time define alternate roles for staff during emergency if designated staffs are not available or hurtled due to effects of events.• List clearly the standing operating procedures as a part of plan and annex at the end.• List governmental line agencies, non-governmental organizations that must be notified to effectively implement the plan as a stakeholder in case of emergencies. • The Emergency Management Plan includes a description of the methods of identification of caregivers, other facility staff, and community responders. Community responders may include law enforcement, fire service personnel, media, and volunteer organizations such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).• Plans include horizontal and vertical evacuation of the facility and indicate biological, chemical and radioactive storage • Indicate alternate options for utility failure and alternate sources of utility systems • Backup system for internal and external communication system• The hospital staff and the stakeholders will be trained on how to use the plan. • Pre and post drills will be undertaken to test the plan and identify gaps for further improvement of the plan. • The "during disaster" phase will include the description of roles and responsibilities of the hospital departments and individuals during an emergency and the "post disaster" phase will include guidelines for debriefing and closing out the emergency phase• Suggest recommendations for Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery • Processes for Implementing the Plans, and Recovery Processes • Guiding question for annual review of plans and orientation, training, and education to patients, staff, visitors and rapid response force• Develop Emergency preparedness and response checklist and annex with Emergency preparedness/management and Response plan
Section-B:- Hospital Emergency Preparedness/management and Response Training
- After developing Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Response plan, staff will be identified to translate plan in to action. Therefore consultant will conduct need assessment using suitable tools with the following stakeholders: hospital management (including maintenance staff such as cleaners, plumbers electricians et al), AKHS, WHO, MoPH, ANDMA, Departments of Water supply, power and sanitation.
- Conduct an induction workshop with the above stakeholders to clearly define their roles and responsibilities.
- As a part of plan (section-A) identify and constitute a Raid Response Team under incident command system keeping in mind its sustainability and efficacy in Afghan context
- Design and Facilitate the 5 days training sessions on hospital emergency preparedness and response as well as mass causality management. Demonstrate the class sessions with practical simulations.
- Develop a manual on hospital preparedness
Section-C: - Mass Causality Management
• Relocation and Evacuation of the Facility and identify space for necessary offices during an emergency: 1) command centre and communication office; 2) security office; 3) reception and triage area; 4) an area for holding a media briefing; and 5) operation theatres.• Establish alternate Care Sites and care management activities• Conducting drills to test emergency preparedness and response plan for in purview of mass casualty Management • Performance Monitoring
Expected Deliverable
• Modules for 5 days Hospital Emergency Preparedness/management and Response Training module, session plan and work plan for over all assignment• Action plan• Stakeholders analysis and need assessment prior the actual trainings and development of Emergency Preparedness/Management Response Plan• Hazard vulnerability risk assessment data, gaps and recommendation• Trained Rapid Response Team (Task force) in place in health facility• Coordination and communication mechanism/framework for Pre, during and post emergency scenarios• Incident commend system introduced, established and demonstrated• Actual 5 days training on hospital emergency preparedness, drills on mass casualty management• Training manual• Emergency Preparedness and response Plan• Guidelines and check list for emergency preparedness and response and hospital safety • Final report
Qualification/Experience
• Masters in disaster risk management with proven experience (at least 3 to 5 years) on hospital emergency preparedness and management • Knowledge of Health Sector operations in mass casualty management systems • Relevant qualifications and a proven track record and Technical Competency in developing hospital emergency preparedness and response plan, Emergency checklists, standard operating procedures and evacuation drills • Excellent communication and writing skills • Analytical skills • Ability to conduct meetings with stakeholders, listen to others and engage in dialogue • Familiarity with context and available sources of information
How to apply:
Submission Guidelines
All applicants meeting the above requirements are requested to send your application consist of a cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the position, and your most up to date Curriculum Vitae to the following email addresses:
hr.afghanistan@focushumanitarian.orgejaz.karim@focushumanitarian.org
