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Libya

Advanced Training of Trainers on Safe Delivery, Libya

Tunis, 30 October 2016 - "Since last year, field reports have indicated a deterioration of the health system in Libya, affecting mainly the Mother and Newborn health services. This deterioration is due to several issues, namely the dwindling number of health workers and particularly midwives in Libya.

This exhorted UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, in Libya to multiply its efforts in supporting the Libyan Ministry of Health in responding to urgent humanitarian needs” says Dr. George Makram Georgi, UNFPA Libya country director at the opening ceremony of the advanced training of trainers on safe delivery, currently taking place in Tunis from October 29th to November 3rd 2016.

Fifteen participants, with broad experience in gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery from different regions in Libya are taking part of the training on safe delivery. The training is facilitated by a group of experts in reproductive health and obstetrics from RCT, the Regional Centre for Training on family planning and reproductive health, Cairo and ONFP, the National Board of Family and Population in Tunisia. Participants will receive during this course, a package of pedagogical skills and technical expertise to help saving lives of pregnant women and newborns in Libya.

In this context, Dr. Badereddin B. Annajjar, Director of NCDC, National Centre for Disease Control Libya, highlighted the importance of cooperation and partnership between the NCDC and ONFP. He also stressed on the efforts of the NCDC to ensure the continuous provision of basic health services despite limited resources in Libya. From his part, Dr. Redha Gataa, General Director of ONFP emphasized on the importance of developing the capacity of health service providers and the education on safe delivery to reduce mothers’ mortality. He also expressed the will of ONFP to put its knowledge and its fifty years of experience in family planning to support all cooperation initiatives and the exchange of good practices. ONFP support comes within a participatory approach to create a dynamic regional solidarity in the areas of population and reproductive health.

Once back to Libya, participants will train nurses working in primary health centers and maternities in underserved areas in order to improve women and newborn health care.