Recruitment of Family Medicine Specialists — Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Republic of The Gambia

Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project

Grant No: D597-GM

Project ID No: P173287

The Gambia Ministry of Health has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) includes services to recruit two Family Medicine Specialists to provide training and mentorship to residents, and other health professionals in anesthesia in the Gambia. The project is a USD 30 million grant which will support the implementation of the Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project which has three components.

The Ministry of Health Project Coordination Unit now invites eligible consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are qualifications and experience of the individual.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 World Bank’s Procurement Regulations dated July 2017, revised in November 2017 and August 2018, and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the guidelines (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: the bank requires that firms or individuals involved in Bank IPF procurement shall not have a conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (CS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from Monday to Thursday 8am to 4pm. The terms of reference is also attached to this request.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by e-mail by January 11, 2021

Project Coordination Unit

Attn: Abdoulie Mam Njie

Kanifing Estate, The Gambia

Tel: +220 3373333

E-mail: [email protected]

Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Ministry of Health, The Gambia

Postgraduate Medical Training Programme

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Postgraduate Medical Specialist Trainer, 2 Family Medicine specialists

(Procurement No: GM-MOH-208450-CS-INDV)

• Background information

The Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences was launched in 1999 in the University of The Gambia (UTG). At the outset the main attention was on undergraduate medical education. The first cohort of eleven medical students graduated in 2006. Since then, annual enrolment increased significantly culminating in a total of 250 trained doctors by the end of October 2020. A limited number of this pool of medical graduates has completed their (fellowship level) specialist training in Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), Surgery and Internal Medicine. A dozen have completed part 1 (specialist) training in Laboratory Medicine, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Paediatrics. All were trained outside the country. Thus, there is a pressing need for more specialists at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH, the main tertiary and teaching hospital) and at the regional/general hospitals. The health sector has never been able to fill the positions of specialists needed in the public health sector. Even though several external technical assistance programmes provided specialist doctors, the numbers were too small to have a meaningful impact on the delivery of specialized services.

For this reason there is now a renewed focus on how to accelerate the training of specialists to meet the needs of the country. It is recognized that such training is important to help the country improve its health outcomes including the emerging threat of Non communicable Diseases (NCD). Up till now specialists in the public and private sectors were trained abroad. To continue with this approach is not feasible for several reasons. The cost of external training is high and unsustainable in the long-term. For example the cost of tuition fees alone for specialist training in the sub-region is US$50,000 per trainee specialist assuming that it takes five years on average for a trainee to complete their residency training. The numbers of medical graduates demanding further postgraduate training is large.

The impetus to set up a postgraduate medical training programme was strengthened by the visits of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) and the West African College of Physicians (WACP) in May and July/August 2017. Both regional bodies are actively supporting the country in its efforts to set up residency training programmes in the EFSTH. Fully accredited training programmes have now started at EFSTH in the departments of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The EFSTH seeks medical specialist consultants (in various specialties, particularly in the following: Paediatrics/Child Health, Internal Medicine/Medical Subspecialties, Family Medicine, Laboratory Medicine/Pathology, Radiology and Anaesthesia) to provide training and mentorship to residents, and other health professionals; and to develop and deliver clinical service in their area of expertise.

• Objective of the assignment The EFSTH seeks two Family Medicine Specialists to provide training and mentorship to residents, and other health professionals in Family Medicine.

• Scope of work The Family Medicine Specialist will be responsible for, but not limited to the following tasks:

I. Provide guidance in ensuring accreditation and re-accreditation of the Family Medicine Specialist department at EFSTH and its allied health-related institutions:

• Preparation and/review of appropriate accreditation check lists;
• Support the Department in preparation of accreditation visits;
• Support the selection of residents, preparation and delivery of training program

II. Provide training to residents:

• Preparation of work schedule of residents and other trainees
• Provide theoretical and practical training in clinical specialty
• Provide mentorship and training in communication and ethical aspects of practice
• Provide training in research methods, audit and medico-legal aspects
• Provide training in evaluation methods/standards
• Familiarize trainees in pedagogy and continuous professional development
• participate in the professional supervision, support, organization and
• delivery of formal teaching programmes of other health professionals

III. Provide clinical services:

· Provide and supervise general and specialist services to clients seeking healthcare at EFSTH and related institutions

• Expected deliverables

Implementation of residency activities involving satisfactory completion and endorsement of rotations, logbooks, core specialist skills, preparation and conduct of special short courses, examinations (including various formats e.g. OSCES).

• Estimated Input and Duration

The consultant will report to the Head of Department.

The duration will be from February , 2021 to January 31, 2023, renewable annually by mutual agreement for three years. Alternatively, a group of qualified Family Medicine Specialists can apply but will ensure two Family Medicine Specialists are at post at any given time for the 2 years duration.

Qualifications of the Consultant

The selected consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Medical or dental Degree with postgraduate medical qualification (FWACP, MRCP/FRCP, MD/CES or other recognized equivalent);
• Minimum of 5 years post fellowship/specialist qualification;
• Have working knowledge of accreditation standards, policies and procedures for postgraduate/residency training, especially as per WAHO-harmonized training curricula;
• Have Experience in working in a Residency training institution
• Ability to work both independently and in teams in a challenging environment to meet deadlines in a culturally diverse setting
• Fluency in English

• General Conditions of Employment

The post attracts competitive salary by sub-regional standards. Additional incentives include: furnished accommodation and transport home to office. Return airfares from home country will be provided.

• Contact: Project Coordination Unit Attn: Abdoulie Mam Njie

Kanifing Estate, The Gambia

Tel: +220 3373333

E-mail: [email protected]