23 April 2025, Tripoli, Libya– To improve health outcomes for displaced Sudanese families in southeastern Libya, the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and international actors, has expanded its Community Health Worker (CHW) programme in Al Kufra.
Thirty trained CHWs are currently guiding families toward primary health care services through local centres and WHO-supported mobile clinics. Since early 2025 the team has reached more than 1500 families, delivering key messages on disease prevention, child immunization, healthy living and the dangers of tobacco use.
The initiative comes in response to mounting health risks in Al Kufra where thousands of Sudanese refugees have settled amid a cluster of oases after fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Many reside in areas with limited access to medical services, raising concerns about infectious diseases and preventable illnesses. Women, children and pregnant mothers, some lacking basic awareness of maternal and newborn care, are particularly at risk.
CHWs, a critical link between communities and overstretched health care systems, also support referrals for mental health services, prenatal and postnatal care, and chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. “The training we received before going into the field made a big difference in how we communicate and engage with communities,” said Saadia, a CHW. “We coordinate with local health teams every day and often refer women, youth and adolescents to the new mental health centre in Al Kufra.”
This work has been made possible through funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
WHO is committed to working alongside national authorities and humanitarian partners to ensure that every family, regardless of their location, can access the health care they need to live safe, healthy and dignified lives.
Media contact:
Yahya Bouzo, Communications Officer, WHO Libya Country Office: Email bouzoy@who.int