World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded a week-long comprehensive training on Tuberculosis (TB) case management in Libya, this workshop was held in Tunisia The first-ever training since the war flared-up in Libya focused on diagnosis, drug management, reporting, and patient tracking. 25 trainees from all TB centers of National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) across Libya under the umbrella of National TB Program (NTP) attended the course. The training was facilitated by Manager of NTP Tunisia along with senior experts in the diagnosis, case management and treatment of TB.
“Increased number of suspected and confirmed TB cases with the identification of MultidrugResistant (MDR) continue to be a major issue in the overcrowded Internally Displacement settlements and detention centers in different districts and municipalities of Libya. The capacity of TB centers is limited to cope with the current caseload while treatment options are also limited due to the shortage of first and second line drugs. This capacity building training is part of the intensified efforts of WHO Libya country office to strengthen the health system of Libya, restore its full functionality and enhance the capacity of TB centers” said Syed Jaffar Hussain,
Representative, and Head of Mission of Libya.
Different training techniques including a field visit to the main hospital that provides specialized TB treatment in Tunis. “We have been waiting for this opportunity for the last two years and are really thankful to WHO Libya country office and National TB Program of Tunisia for hosting us in Tunis. The knowledge and skills gained from this training will be taken forward to be applied in all TB centers across Libya” said Dr. Mohamed Furjani, Director of National TB Program of Libya.
WHO is leading the health sector in Libya and management of TB along with other infectious diseases is one of the six pillars of the new health sector strategy. Over the past few months, WHO has been providing essential medicines and laboratory equipment to NTP Libya.