WHO Libya biweekly operational update 1-15 January 2021 General developments: political & security situation • Guterres announces necessary steps for Libya ceasefire to hold, • The Libyan financial committee tasked with devising the 2021 unified budget of the country held a meeting in eastern Libyan town of Brega in the presence of officials from the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord. • Libyan GNA, Haftar's forces swap over 35 prisoners. • Italy appoints special envoy to Libya. • NATO Reaffirms Support To Libya And Concern About The Russian Presence. • LPDF's Advisory Committee meeting kicked off today in the Palais Des Nations in Geneva. • Libyan Economic Dialogue Meets to Follow up on Critical Economic Reforms. • Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams announces the establishment of the LPDF's Advisory Committee. • The US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland has said that members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Advisory Committee (AC) had been offered an opportunity to forge consensus on forming a new government. • Health workers call for urgent measures, say conditions in Health Ministry are catastrophic. OPERATIONAL UPDATES COVID-19 Pillar 1: Country‑level coordination, planning and monitoring • Facilitated the production of the first COVID-19 national strategy based on the outcomes of the national workshop on 11 November 2020. • Participated in the in the regular meetings and provide technical support to the COVID-19 advisory committee in Sabha • Worked with the University of Benghazi in preparing the COVID-19 scientific conference on 30th January 2021. • Met with the Supreme COVID-19 Committee in Benghazi, discussed 2021 procurement plan for COVID-19 diagnostic equipment, updated partners about the COVID-19 situation in Libya. • Presented health related consequences of the COVID-19 during the scientific day organized by Omar Al Mukhtar University in Al Baida. Pillar 2: Risk communication and community engagement • Attended a meeting with WR at the NCDC to follow up on EWARN and response to COVID-19. • In cooperation with PHC and Mental health officers, conducted two 2-day workshops on COVID-19 in schools in Tripoli. Teachers and students between 9-12 year were taken through the basic procedures to recognize the symptoms of the disease to help preventing the spread. • Met with the Director of Communication to discuss the objectives and the agenda of the educational workshop on COVID-19 prevention measures for the NCDC-IEC professional in seven municipalities around Tripoli. • In close cooperation with the communication team at the regional office developed official response to the inquiries received from Libyan journalists on COVID-19 and the new vaccine. • Developed COVID-19 health promotion messages and posted them on the WCO’s social media platforms (in Arabic and English) about WHO’s COVID-19 activities (available at https://twitter.com/WHOLIBYA and https://www.facebook.com/WHOLIBYA/. • Provided presentation on COVID-19 recent updates including infection prevention measures at schools and orientation on risk of communication and community engagement to teachers and administrative staff at World International Language School in Janzour. 1 Pillar 3: Surveillance, rapid response teams and case investigation • Continued to follow up with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on daily registered COVID-19 cases and the epidemiological situation and updated COVID19 Dynamic Infographic Dashboard for Libya with NCDC and WHO EMRO data sources. • Supported NCDC by conducting 3 workshops targeted surveillance officers involved in EWARN system, these workshops on using new application which included COVID-19 as one of priority diseases? The training attended by 59 surveillance officers covered south, west and mid regions. • Shared with MoH and NCDC update information on new SARS-CoV-2 variant. • Conducted regular follow up with NCDC newly detected COVID 19 cases and epidemiological situation progress in the country • Preparation in place for support to the NCDC COVID 19 data management team by training on data analaysis and interpretation Pillar 5: National laboratories • Supported COVID-19 lab network by conducting three training workshops in Tripoli focused on lab confirmation and biosafety/ biosecurity and are follows: o The first workshop was conducted between 15 to 17 December targeted Aljufra, Sert, Khoms, Zliten labs and attended by 20 participants. o The second workshop was conducted on 22 December for 3 days, targeted Nalut, Ghedames, Gharyan, Yefren and Kabaw labs and attended by 24 participants, o The third workshop was conducted on 29 December for three days, targeted Sabha, Ashati, Tarhuna, Zintan labs and attended by 25 participants. Pillar 6: Infection Prevention and Control • Followed up with the IPC consultants in the south the implementation of their action plan in the southern region. • Contracted IPC officers to follow-up the situation in 16 COVID isolation departments and triage centres, conduct IPC assessment at the facility level and identify the gaps and needs in those health facilities. • Organized 3 training sessions of 1 day each on IPC measures and trained more than 25 healthcare workers in health facilities provided COVID health care in coordination with the local health authorities. • Co-chaired IPC working group meeting with UNICEF and discuss the same at of coordination between the agencies. • Organized and facilitated the weekly meeting for IPC officers and discussion of their work plan in the next two months based on the IPC assessment. Pillar 7: Case management • Provided an update on COVID-19 bed capacity of the 2 main health facilities of isolation centers in Tripoli. • Provided the technical support to Sabha Medical Center in regard to the new isolation center that will be opened in the center. Leadership • Reviewed the WHO annual response for Libya 2020. • Finalized all PMDS’ for staff. • Followed up on the remaining audit recommendations for closure. • Prepared the cost for WHO Libya operations in 2021. • Prepared an overview of staff cost for 2021 and matched them to ongoing awards. • Prepared funding projections for 2021. • Reviewed plans for staff accommodation and advocated for WHO’s needs with UN heads of Agencies. • Reviewed a proposal for WHO support to cover acute health needs in Sirte. 2 • Met with Director of UNDP to discuss potential for a joint initiative to provide support for pressing health interventions in Sirte. • Prepared COVID vaccine plans for UN national and international staff. Met with UN chief medical officer in Libya to review criteria and plans. • Reviewed national plans for COVID vaccination. Met with DG of the NCDC to review policies, criteria and operational plans. • Worked with UNHCR and IOM on policy, criteria and operational plans for COVID vaccination of vaccination of refugees and migrants. • Met with NCC to provide direction and advocated for the inclusion of refugees, migrants and UN staff in the national vaccination plan. • Acted for DO and RC/ HC. Coordination and Health Information Management • Participated in the work of the established Basic Services Working Group under the Joint Technical Coordination Committee: presented health sector “development” related imperatives. • Presented Libya case in deep dive discussion within the “Accelerator Themed Working Group on Innovative Programming in Fragile and Vulnerable Settings”, organized by the Regional Office. • Provided surge support to the WHO emergency operations in Syria. • Completed Annual Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring (CCPM) for health sector performance in 2020. 27 organizations (75% response rate) provided respective inputs. • Produced Health Sector Bulletin for December 2020. • Finalizing 2020 Health Sector Annual Report for Libya. • Followed up with the health sector and key donors on on COVID-19 vaccine introduction. • Followed up with UNHCR, WHO, IOM, MSF-H, UNICEF on the reported health concerns in Gargaresh community. • Worked with WHO leadership on necessary steps to cover migrants and refugees by the planned COVID-19 vaccination. • Continued technical discussions with the World Bank and the Regional Bank on the next steps for development of Health Workforce strategy and related steps. • Developed the following IM materials: o Annual WHO operational response, 2020, Libya o Summary of 2020 HRP key indicators reported through 4Ws, December 2020 o Map of Health sector partners operational presence across Libya, 2020 o health sector annual 2020 maps showing medical procedures provided and the health facilities supported. o Updated the link for Health sector interactive analysis for the 4Ws . o Daily update Libya dynamic COVID-19 Libya dashboard COVID-19 Libya dashboard. o Update of HIS unit EMRO by Libya December Emergency Response Monitoring indicators. o developed the 2021 Health Sector 4Ws data collection matrix. HEALTH OPERATIONS Sub-office Benghazi • Met with Sirte hospital director, Sirte Mayor, and Sirte representative in the Parliament- discussed the urgent health needs in Sirte Municipality and a response action plan prepared and submitted and approved by WR. • Followed up with the Libyan Midwives’ Association (LMA) to draft a joint proposal and explore how to strengthen the Midwifery services in 2021. • Followed up with the International Activities Office of Bambino Gesu Hospital (BGH) in Rome to start preparation for resumption of WHO-BGH project to train Libyan doctors and nurses from Tripoli