On Monday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) received more than €3.3 million from the European Union to support an 18-month project to strengthen the management of tuberculosis (TB) in Libya.
TB in Libya is on the rise, especially given that the country’s healthcare system has been severely disrupted due to the decade-long conflict. The National Tuberculosis Programme has acute shortages of trained staff, specialized equipment, and medical supplies.
Libya is particularly vulnerable to the risk of infectious diseases such as TB, as the country hosts more than 570,000 migrants. A recent IOM study showed that 39% of them were living in unsanitary and severely overcrowded conditions (i.e., more than six people per habitable room), and had limited access to healthcare, thus creating conditions ripe for the spread of the disease. Other migrants are being held in similarly overcrowded detention centres.
Using the generous contribution from the EU, the IOM and WHO will work together to strengthen TB screening, laboratory diagnosis, referrals, and treatment services for migrants, refugees, internally displaced people, and other vulnerable populations.
“TB is the world’s top infectious killer. However, with proper treatment, the vast majority of people can be cured of the disease. The EU’s timely contribution will help us enhance TB services throughout the country,” said Elizabeth Hoff, the Head of Mission and WHO’s Representative in Libya.
“The project will allow WHO to support national efforts to combat TB by training health staff, strengthen surveillance, and laboratory services. We plan to deliver equipment, medicines, and supplies to TB centres across the country. To help reduce the spread of infection, we will support systematic screening and contact tracing in detention centres and communities hosting high numbers of migrants. Lastly, we will work with communities to help them understand the signs and symptoms of TB, the steps they can take to prevent its spread, and how, when, and where they should seek health care,” Hoff said.
“Migrants and internally displaced populations are often vulnerable to TB due to low immunity caused by lack of adequate nutrition, unhygienic living conditions, and lack of access to early detection services,” she noted.