Consultant — National Regulatory Framework on Health Care Waste Management

REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE FOR A CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ON HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Government of Swaziland (GOS) has received a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) towards the cost of a five-year Health HIV/AIDS and TB Project in the amount of US$20 Million equivalent. This project will be jointly financed by the European Union in the amount of Euro 14.5 million. The Project will support Swaziland's efforts to address the country's health sector challenges, as outlined by the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP) 2008-2013.

The project has three components (i) Strengthen thecapacity of the Health Sector, (ii) improve access to and quality of health services in Swaziland with a particular focus on primary healthcare, maternal health and TB, and (iii) increase social safety net access for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) through a cash transferpilot.

A Health Care Waste Management Plan (HCWMP) for Swaziland has been developed to identify and enforce proper health and environmentally sound, technically feasible, economically viable, and socially acceptable systems for the management of health care waste during the implementation of the Project. This plan brings a holistic approach to HCWM in the country that embraces the legal and institutional aspects and also seeks to involve all the appropriate stakeholders in the health sector. Such a Plan is necessary in order to prevent adverse impacts on the environment and to safeguard the health of health care staff and the general public.

The Health, HIV/AIDS and TB Project has made provision for an expert consultant to perform a complete review of the existing laws, by-laws, norms and regulations in order to update, improve or strengthen necessary legal framework, despite all flaws that alreadyexists.

The MOH now invites interested, qualified candidates to indicate their interest in providing technical support and services under this consultancy. The durationof this Consultancy is forty (40) days. Selection shall be on the basis of examination and comparison of the qualifications of the individual candidates as evidenced by their CVs. The selected individual shallbe requested to submit a cost offer to undertake the work.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the consultancy is to analyze the existing national regulatory framework on Health Care Waste Management, and make recommendations for its improvement by:

a. Analyzing all existing laws, bylaws and regulations relating to health care waste management;

b. Identifying gaps in regulatory and institutional responsibilities;

c. Proposing regulations clearly highlighting procedures and different responsibilities at all levels.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

• Identify, review, analyse and prepare a report on all the existing information available on the health care waste management, including relevant laws, bylaws, norms and regulations as well as previous reports related to this task, and other documents.

• Identify and consult relevant Government Ministries and department, Development partners and interested and affected parties that have a concern to the formulation of the regulations on health care waste management. Consultation will be conducted through meetings as needed, in addition to consultation workshops to be facilitated by the consultant.

• Make recommendations for the improvement of the existing Regulatory framework on health care waste management. The developed draft legal package should specify/contain:

a. A clear definition of hazardous health care waste and its various categories;

b. Precisely indicate the legal obligations of health care waste producers regarding safe handling and disposal

c. Specifications for record-keeping and reporting;

d. Specifications for an inspection system to ensure enforcement of the law, and for penalties to be imposed for contravention;

e. Regulations on treatment for different waste categories, segregation, collection, storage' handling, disposal, and transportation of waste

f. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Health –Environmental Health Officials , of the Environment Authority, of the heads of health care establishments, of local Authorities, of the scattered and smaller producers of health care waste of the heads of any private or public waste –disposal agencies involved, and any other entity involved in health care waste management.

2.

DELIVERABLES

• Consultant will prepare Work Plan, outlining the proposed activities and timeline for achieving the objectives of the consultancy.

• Consultant will prepare well documented report on the Analysis of existing information and legislations relating to Health Care WasteManagement, identifying gaps and weaknesses of the existing framework, ready for submission to the approving Authorities.

• Consultant will prepare five (5) hard copies and one (1) electronic/soft copy of adapted and fine-tuned draft of National Health CareWaste Management new proposed Regulations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced academic degree in the relevant area of expertise. Required areas of expertise:

a. Public Health Law, and Legal drafting experience

b. Environmental management with a proven expertise in Health Care Waste Management.

c. Health Care Waste Management experience with demonstrated prior experiencein development of Health Care Waste Management technical regulatory framework.

• Regional and international expertise in the development of regulatory framework (not less than 10 years) with substantial prior experience in the development of health care waste management regulatory documents.

• Relevant experience in environmental management and proven expertise in Health care waste management regulations drafting in developing countries (not less than three successful experiences during the last seven years) in Sub-Saharan Africa or other developing countries shall be an added advantage.

• Proven experience in regional and international environmentaland health & safety related legislations and the World Health Organisation principles/guidelines on health care waste management.

APLICATIONS:

Submit a detailed copy of updated curriculum vitae (duties inclusive), references and scanned copies of notarized academic or professional certifications. Application should be addressed to:

The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health; 7th Floor Dlan'ubeka Building, Mbabane. Postal address: The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health P.O. Box 5; Mbabane, Swaziland.

Electronic applications should be sent to Project Coordinator; [email protected] copy to [email protected] no later than 5thApril, 2013. All applications will be acknowledged but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Contacts: (00268) 24048840; (00268) 240425557