Recruitment of Specialists for Urology, Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry and Radiology — Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE RECURITMENT OF FOUR POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINERS

Country: Republic of The Gambia

Project: Gambia Essential Health Services Strengthening Project

Grant No. DA-D7310

Project ID: P173287

Ref: GM-GEHSSP-GM-396004-CS-INDV

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 1 Urologist, 1 Microbiologist, 1 Clinical Chemist and 1 Radiologist to provide training and mentorship to residents, and other health professionals in the Gambia. 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 the 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 will be furnished upon request by sending an email to the email addresses listed below.

Expressions of interest must be by e-mail by 19 December 2023.

Project Coordination Unit

Attn: Abdoulie Mam Njie

Kairaba Avenue, Opposite GIEPA House

Tel: +220 3373333

E-mail: [email protected]

Copy: [email protected]

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

Postgraduate Medical Training Programme

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Postgraduate Medical Specialist Trainer

(Procurement No: GM-GEHSSP-GM-396004-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 350 trained doctors by the end of June 2022. A limited number of this pool of medical graduates have 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 in the teaching hospital and five regional 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. X

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 indicators, especially the main Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), now with 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 recent 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 Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), the main tertiary and teaching hospital. Fully accredited Postgraduate specialist training programmes have now started at EFSTH in the departments of Paediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

• Objective of the assignment The EFSTH seeks medical specialist consultants in Urology, Microbiologist, Clinical Chemist and Radiologist to provide training and mentorship to residents, and other health professionals; and to develop and deliver clinical service in their area of expertise.

• Scope of work The medical consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to the following tasks:

I. Provide technical support and guidance in ensuring accreditation and its sustainability of their specialty department at EFSTH and its allied health-related institutions:

• Preparation and/review of appropriate accreditation check lists;
• Support their 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 CPD
• 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 eg OSCES).

• Estimated Input and Duration

The consultant will report to the Head of Department.

The duration will be for six months that is from January 2024.

Qualifications of the Consultant

The selected consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Medical or dental Degree with postgraduate medical qualification (FWACP, FWACS, MRCP/FRCP, FRCS, FRCOG, FDS 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 place of work. Return airfares from home country will be provided.

• Contact: Mr. Malang Ndong Director of Administration & HR

Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital

Banjul

Email: [email protected]

Mob. (+220) 3652434

Please copy the following in your email

Prof. Amar Al-Jaafari Email: [email protected]

Mob. (+220) 2030455

Dr. Abubacarr Jagne Email: [email protected]

Mob. (+220) 3363115

Prof. Yankuba Kassama: Email: [email protected]

Mob. (+220) 3353077

Mrs. Haddy Cham: Email: [email protected]

Mob. (+220) 7031258/3204813