Build and strengthen laboratory surveillance capacity and improve biosafety, biosecurity and diagnostic stewardship in selected AMR surveillance sites in Lao PDR

Item Description:

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. The objective of WHO (www.who.int) is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. “Health”, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO’s main function is to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.

The Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) is one of the six regions of the World Health Organization. Headquartered in Manila, Philippines, we work with health authorities and other partners in 37 countries and areas with more than one quarter of the world’s population.

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifaceted and highly unusual global public health threat – it involves many pathogens that vary in disease etiology, frequency, and distribution and its associated health outcomes and economic impact are tremendous, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In May 2015, the Sixty-Eighth World Health Assembly adopted the Global Action Plan on AMR, which called on the WHO Member States to take urgent action against AMR. WHO introduced the One Health approach as a possible global response by unifying the goal of controlling AMR through national integrated surveillance in the sectors of human medicine, veterinary practice, the food chain, and the environment.

To standardize the One Health integrated surveillance among Member States, WHO developed the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), to which Lao PDR is enrolled. The aim of GLASS is to provide global comprehensive surveillance data on AMR, antimicrobial medicines consumption (AMC), and antimicrobial use (AMU) within the different sectors that can be achieved by countries from all economies. The current approach is a focus on putting in place the foundations for national surveillance of AMR, AMC, and AMU in the human and animal health sectors. Bringing together multi-sectoral, national and international stakeholders to develop and implement GLASS and share surveillance data (using data management software such as WHONET), would then inform national health policies. The foundations for surveillance include laboratory capacity, and diagnostic stewardship.

In order to establish and strengthen national laboratory capacity, good laboratory practice is needed, which enables surveillance sites to identify pathogens, test antimicrobial susceptibilities, and timely report accurate, reliable, and quality-assured diagnostic results which, in turn, will guide diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship – the evidence-based use of microbiological diagnostic tests and antimicrobials in clinical management.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

To build and strengthen laboratory surveillance capacity and improve biosafety, biosecurity and diagnostic stewardship in selected AMR surveillance sites in Lao PDR.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The TSA contractor will report to and be guided by the WHO Country Office, and will conduct the following activities and provide technical reports for each accomplished activity:

• Support the national surveillance system through capacity building of 3 selected AMR surveillance sites – Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang, and Salavan Hospitals
• Assess and improve biosafety and biosecurity practices in the laboratories of the 3 AMR surveillance sites
• Improve diagnostic stewardship at the 3 AMR surveillance sites according to WHO GLASS standards
• Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) efforts at the national and facility levels
• Contribute to AMR surveillance and AMC and AMU data sharing between and among the human and animal health sectors
• Increase capacity of NCLE for advanced spectrometry techniques for bacterial identification

Outputs  

Output 1: Support for national surveillance system through capacity building of AMR surveillance sites

Deliverable 1.1: Baseline and progress assessments of Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals as AMR surveillance sites using a standardized assessment tool defined by WHO, as demonstrated in assessment reports.

Deliverable 1.2: Improved capacity of bacteriology laboratory staff at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals in quality assurance/control, pathogen identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and antibiotic resistance mechanisms by structured on the job training and supervision and in accordance with a capacity building plan developed with NCLE and WHO, as evaluated by performance in annual EQA from NCLE.

Deliverable 1.3: Procurement lists of laboratory reagents and consumables to enable bacterial cultures, initially starting with urine culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) to be performed at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals.

Deliverable 1.4: Implementation of bacterial cultures, initially of urine, and AST from patients´ specimens at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospital laboratories according to WHO standards.

Deliverable 1.5: Improved biosafety and biosecurity practices in Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals, as evaluated in assessment reports.

Output 2: Contribute to AMS efforts at the national and facility levels

Deliverable 2.1: Dissemination and training for the national antibiotic guidelines at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals.

Deliverable 2.2: Expansion of AMU point prevalence survey (PPS) data and evaluation of feedback on antimicrobial use in Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals using dashboard system with the Ministry of Health for enhancing AMS.

Output 3: Improve diagnostic stewardship among clinicians in AMR surveillance sites

Deliverable 3.1: Improved utilization of microbiology laboratory services to inform clinical decision making at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals, as evaluated by an increase in the number of appropriate clinical specimens collected and the percentage of clinical staff trained in the proper use of available laboratory diagnostic tools.

Output 4: Develop a tailored training and capacity building plan/course for bacteriology laboratory staff at AMR surveillance sites in collaboration with a Thai university.

Deliverable 4.1: Training and capacity building plan for a course for bacteriology laboratory staff tailored to the Lao context.

Output 5: Expand the scope and reach of the AMR dashboard to include AMC monitoring data.

Deliverable 5.1: AMC module on the same platform as the current AMR/AMU dashboard.

Output 6: Capacity building for NCLE staff for advanced spectrometry techniques for bacterial identification

Deliverable 6.1: Training for NCLE staff in the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for bacterial identification, as demonstrated by the number of NCLE staff trained.

Output 7: Ensure quality and timely reporting

Deliverable 7.1: Inception report detailing the phases of implementation, timing, scope of capacity building, key deliverables, budget and milestones, within 30 days of starting the project.

Deliverable 7.2: Quarterly technical reports detailing training and supervision accomplished in the AMR surveillance sites, using standardized reporting template.

Deliverable 7.3: Supporting documents for meetings, workshops and training sessions as follows:

• Objectives, agenda, and participant list
• PowerPoint Presentation used in meetings, workshop/training (using template provided)
• Results of the workshop: this can be summary of achievement, actions taken, next steps, etc.
• Pictures (when applicable)
• Attendance sheet (using template provided)

Deliverable 7.4: Financial reporting as agreed in the contract.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The TSA contractor will work closely and directly with staff at Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals to build capacity for AMR surveillance.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  N/A

Desirable: N/A

EXPERIENCE

Essential: 

At least 10 years’ experience in the comprehensive strengthening of clinical diagnostic laboratory capacity

Experience in microbiology laboratory capacity building and diagnosis

Experience in patient case management meetings

Experience in treatment guideline development.

Desirable:

Experience in working with health authorities and public health decision-makers in Lao PDR is an asset

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Bench training and supervision skills for biosafety, biosecurity, quality assurance, pathogen identification, genotyping techniques, AST and antibiotic resistance evaluation, and result validation, interpretation and reporting to clinicians

LANGUAGES

Fluent in English

COMPETENCIES

Producing results

Fostering integration and teamwork

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Qualified bidder shall have a valid agreement with the Lao Government, such as a Memorandum of Understanding.

Interested parties will have to submit their project proposal, including costs, as per the rules of UNGM posting.

The assignment will require travel to AMR surveillance sites in Luang Namtha, Xieng Khouang and Salavan Hospitals as necessary.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 26 August 2019 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-08/LAO_WHE/TN95237/vrs as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Contacts

Peter Ellison – wproungm@who.int, Tel: +63 25289654, Fax: +63 25252512
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Peter
Surname: Ellison
Telephone country code: Philippines (+63)
Telephone number: 25289654
Telephone extension: 89654
Fax country code: Philippines (+63)
Fax number: 25252512

LAO WHE TSA TOR.pdf
RFP TOR TSA.pdf