Hygiene Agent (COVID-19 Intervention)

Job Description

Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters and exclusion from healthcare in more than 70 countries. MSF offers assistance to people in need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. Doctors Without Borders India (DWBI) has worked in India since 1999, providing free-of-charge essential healthcare to people in remote areas; treatment and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS, malnutrition; hepatitis C, tuberculosis, kala azar and sexual and gender-based violence; an important subject for our action is containing effect of antibiotic resistance. DWBI also responds to natural disasters and other emergencies, provides mental healthcare and advocates for the development of more effective and affordable medicines to improve access to treatment everywhere. We currently run projects in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Telangana. Médecins Sans Frontières was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 1996 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

DWBI has been working in Bihar treating kala azar since 2007 with a gradual transition of the project to focus on HIV-kala azar co-infected patients. After treating more than 13,000 patients in Vaishali, DWBI began focusing on the treatment of kala azar-HIV co-infection in partnership with the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) in Patna in 2016.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Doctors Without Borders India (DWBI) is planning to set up a treatment facility in Patna (Bihar state), witht the purpose of treating mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 with some capacity for palliative care, thereby decongesting the current referral hospital (Nalanda Medical College & Hospital) to be able to focus on the severe cases.

We are recruiting Hygiene Agents to work in the COVID-19 treatment facility, carrying out cleaning activities in the mission according to DWBI standards and procedures in order to ensure hygiene and disinfection of materials and surfaces.

Hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Logistics Supervisor.

• Location: Patna, Bihar
• Project: Patna, COVID-19 Intervention
• Availability: 4 months with possible extension
• Last application date: 21st April 2020
• Starting date: 1st May 2020

• Performing tasks related to hygiene and disinfection according to protocols applied in the service, knowing and applying specific hygiene protocols and security rules .This includes but are not limited to the following:
  • Maintaining clean and disinfected, the infrastructures allocated to his/her position including the furniture, doors, walls and floor and some medical material (rooms of patients, of consultation, laboratory, operating theatre, delivery room, mortuary, waiting room, staff room, storage room, kitchen, bathroom and latrines) applying specific protocols and using the tools and equipment provided. Cleaning floors, equipment, beds, toilets and showers according to protocols and schedule
• Collecting and evacuating waste produced by medical structures to the designated site, previously sorted by medical staff and emptying out dustbins as often as necessary to ensure an efficient quality of care and safe environment
• Raising awareness on hygiene and sanitation measures amongst patients, visitors, staff, mothers to use correctly the water distribution points, latrines, hand washing points and washing areas in collaboration with the nursing and health promotion team
• Filling all water containers every morning (drinking water and hand washing points) and refilling when half full and for hand washing, ensuring soap is available
• Installing mosquito nets as required for in-patient beds and carrying out laundry activities according to protocols
• Ensuring proper use, storage and maintenance of the equipment and tools provided. Ensuring availability of hygiene and sanitation products, and draws up orders for on-going needs
• Reporting any repair or maintenance work needed related to hygiene to the supervisor, as well as any relevant information related to his/her responsibilities.

• In a health facility to treat COVID-19 there will be strict rules on infection prevention and control which will mean that patients are not allowed to have their family as caretakers on the ward.
• The Hygiene Agents will have to adhere to the strict infection prevention and control guidelines that will be present on the ward in order to ensure that onward transmission of the disease is mitigated..
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be provided to all staff working in the treatment facility and training will be provided to ensure the staffs are able to carry out their daily tasks.
• The Hygiene Agent will be reporting to the Logistics Supervisor and will be working both day shifts and night shifts in the same pattern as the other clinical staff.

The nature of the work requires presence during night shifts, weekends and Public Holidays as per duty roster. Sundays are considered as a weekday. Special arrangements are only considered for official Public Holidays (as per Internal Rules and Regulations).

Only candidates who are based in Patna are eligible to apply for this position. Qualifications

• Literate and internally trained by DWBI.

Work experience

• Desired experience in similar position.

As this recruitment is for a specific emergency response on COVID-19, it is important that staff only apply for this position if they do not have one of the major risk factors for COVID-19 namely existing cardiac complications, diabetes, hypertension, pregnancy or age > 50 years.

• SALARY: Rupees 17,107 gross/month. NON NEGOTIABLE
• Benefit of 13th Month Salary.
• PF and Gratuity are applicable as per law.
• TOTAL LEAVES: 18 days annual leave in addition to 12 days, Short Sick/Casual leave (pro-rated based on hire date) plus 12 days Holidays as per specified list of holidays.
• Wide Medical coverage (Employee + Direct Relatives), as per organization policy.
• Accommodation will be provided by DWBI during all the length of the intervention.

To apply please email your CV and motivational letter mentioning why you would be interested to apply for the position with the subject Ref: Hygiene Agent to

msfe-asia-hr@barcelona.msf.org

AND

msfe-delhi-recruitment@barcelona.msf.org

Applications that are no completed (CV + Covering letter) will not be considered. ONLY SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED AND INVITED FOR INTERVIEW. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders India is an equal opportunity employer. Women candidates are encouraged to apply.