Mahmoud Aboudabus, the Head of the National Organ Donation Organisation in Libya, reported the alarming deaths of seven children with spinal ailments. Three more have contracted Hepatitis C, despite being clear of the virus when they were admitted to Wadi El-Nil Hospital in Egypt.
These incidents have raised serious concerns about the conditions these children were exposed to in the hospital.
Aboudabus voiced his surprise over the “lack of initiatives taken by the Libyan state to establish spinal marrow transplantation procedures within its own medical infrastructure.”
This includes the training of healthcare professionals such as nurses and lab technicians, in this particular area of expertise at the Organ Transplant Center located in Tripoli. He stressed that Libya possesses a well-qualified workforce of healthcare professionals, but the key issue remains the need for properly equipped hospital facilities.
Aboudabus also shared that in response to these alarming incidents, the Libyan Embassy in Cairo has filed a lawsuit with the Office of the Public Prosecutor. Similarly, the affected children’s families have lodged a case with the Attorney General’s office in Tripoli, citing negligence and failure to adequately address this pressing matter.
Libya has been marred by conflict and political instability for over a decade. The 2011 uprising, which ousted and killed, Muammar Gaddafi has led to a power vacuum and ongoing conflict.
The healthcare sector in Libya has been heavily impacted by this instability. The conflict has led to the deterioration of the healthcare infrastructure, and a shortage of medical supplies and professionals. Additionally, political instability has disrupted the organisation and delivery of healthcare services.
The country has struggled to maintain its healthcare system, and as a result, many Libyans seek medical treatment abroad, particularly in neighbouring countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.
Spinal cord diseases are serious conditions that can lead to paralysis, and even death if not properly managed. They often require special care and resources that may not be readily available in a country like Libya.