On Wednesday, the Health Minister of the Libyan Parliament-designated government, Othman Abdel-Jalil called for intensified focus on pediatric oncology services, particularly for children needing bone marrow transplants.
In a focused meeting with the Cancer Patient Follow-up Committee at Benghazi’s Pediatric Medicine and Surgery Hospital, he emphasized the “critical need for specialized care for children suffering from cancer, particularly those in need of bone marrow transplants.”
During this meeting, Abdel-Jalil and the committee reviewed the progress in pediatric oncology, specifically regarding bone marrow transplantation for young cancer patients.
Discussions centered on selecting specialized oncology hospitals abroad, and assessing their success rates in pediatric bone marrow transplants.
Libya, emerging from years of conflict and political instability, faces significant challenges in its healthcare system.
The country’s pediatric oncology care has been under intense pressure. With limited local resources for specialized treatments, many children have had to seek treatment abroad, a situation compounded by budgetary constraints, and logistical difficulties.
The focus on pediatric cancer care in Libya is part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Health to improve services across the country. This initiative includes upgrading medical facilities, training healthcare professionals, and forging international collaborations to provide advanced medical treatments not available locally.
Abdel-Jalil’s emphasis on the need for specialized care reflects a deep understanding of the healthcare sector’s challenges, and the urgent need to provide life-saving treatment