An Italian medical team has pledged to perform 70 facial reconstructive surgeries for children suffering from deformities in Benghazi, eastern Libya. The mission forms part of a humanitarian initiative aimed at improving healthcare services and training local doctors in advanced surgical techniques.
Dr Cortolazzi, the head of the visiting Italian surgical team, confirmed that 70 surgeries have been scheduled during the current mission. Speaking to the Libyan News Agency, he revealed that around 150 cases had been registered by Benghazi Medical Centre, with particularly complex conditions set to receive individual assessments and customised treatment plans.
He highlighted that the procedures are also being carried out as a practical workshop for Libyan doctors to enhance their skills and enable them to conduct such surgeries independently in the future. Some of the more complicated cases may require multiple operations, such as bone or tissue grafting, which will be coordinated in future medical visits.
Dr Cortolazzi expressed hope for expanded cooperation with the Libyan Ministry of Health and local medical professionals, noting that the mission’s core aim is to restore smiles to the faces of Libyan children living with disfiguring conditions.
A comprehensive report will be compiled at the end of the mission, detailing key challenges, complex case studies, and an assessment of Libya’s medical and technical needs in the field of craniofacial surgery.
Dr Fadwa Al-Faidi, head of the local programme for reconstructive and congenital defect surgeries, confirmed that patient evaluations began on Friday. She said the initiative is entirely free of charge and was launched under directives from House of Representatives Speaker Ageela Saleh and is overseen by Parliament-appointed Prime Minister Osama Hammad.
