Biweekly health sector Libya operational updates 1-15 December 2020 Ongoing activities, accomplishments, issues and challenges for the reported period and upcoming plans Name of organization (1-15 December 2020) ACF AICS CEFA Chemonics Common Feedback During the month of December, we answered 41 callers (39% were female callers), 90% were refugees, 16%, while returnee and Mechanism (ETS sector) non-displaced made up of 10% combined. Those calls were mostly from the West (96%). Callers were requesting information (83%) about the registration to the health services, needed an emergency medical intervention and Requesting reproductive health services and new-born vaccinations, while beneficiaries calling to provide feedback were 17%. Currently also being used as a national COVID-19 informational hotline, we received calls from 65 callers,25% were female callers, 17% were suspected cases and were advised to contact the nearest emergency centre, the rest (83%) they were asking for information which include the awareness messages, the useful numbers and location of emergency centres and all calls came from the West region. Emergenza Sorrisi Expertise France GIZ Improve functionality of 5 PHC centres (PHCCs) through IMC in Garabulli (Algarabouli Polyclinic) and Janzour (Abduljalil Martyrs PHCC), Nalut (Sidi Khalifa PHCC), Al Bawanis (Tamanhant PHCU), Zintan (Al Kawassim Western PHCC). The intervention was concluded in November – an end line assessment will be conducted in Jan. 2021. The support to 2 PHCCs in the East (Brega and Ajdabiya) is in preparation. A Health Needs Assessment looked at the overall health needs (phase I) in Brega, Ajdabiya, Benghazi and Tobruk. In phase II, the functionality and service availability of the PHCCs in Brega and Ajdabiya (identified with ICO as most in need) will be assessed. GIZ agreed terms with the Health Information Center of the MoH to roll out DHIS2 trainings and IT equipment to PHC and hospital staff of 10 municipalities (Msallata, Al-Shargia, Nalut, Wadi Al Bawanis, Jadu, Hay-Al Andalous, Zliten, Tawergha, Tahuna and Al Jufra). The trainings are planned to begin end of December in Hay-Alandalus. Support to National COVID-19 Response Plan, a collaborative GIZ Libya Programme COVID-19 response, which is supported by the EU and the German Government. Pillar 2: Risk Communication and Community Engagement - To further strengthen the integration of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in the COVID-19 response, the project is establishing a network of MHPSS Focal Points among the COVID-19 Coordination Committees from all 16 GIZ partner municipalities* and Tawergha. A one week workshop on the fundamentals of MHPSS, the development of a common understanding and objective of the established network as well as the preparation of actions plans was conducted from 29.11-03.12. - An introductory meeting in Tripoli was held on 16.12. to introduce and adapt the revised COVID-19 national plan to the municipal level together with the MECs of the 16 partner municipalities* plus Brak and Tawergha. Pillar 3: Surveillance, RRTs and case investigation - Through IMC: Provision of PPE and training RRTs targeting 8 municipalities**are ongoing. Pillar 6: IPC: - Ongoing support to Women Training and Development Centres in production of PPEs Pillar 9: Maintain Essential Services - 5 PHCCs (Al Qassabat PHCC Msallata , Hun and Wadan PHCC in Al Jufra, Western Rawajeh PHCC in Garabulli and Ghadamis PHCC) were selected by MoH to be supported by IMC in the areas of NCDs management, MCH, and mental health services and provision of IHEKs – online trainings will start end of December and procurement of essential medicine and equipment was initiated. * 16 municipalities: Nalut, Ghadamis, Al Zintan, Jadu, Hay-Alandalus, Garabulli, Msallata, Janzour, Zliten, Misurata, Tarhouna, Al Jufra, Al Bawanis, Al Shargia, Edri El Shati, Al Shweyrif ** 8 municipalities: Nalut, Ghadamis, Al Zintan, Garabulli, Msallata, Janzour, Al Jufra, Wadi Al Bawanis Handicap International Helpcode Within the framework of the EUTF/AICS funded project “Restoring quality health care services in Zawya and Ghat District in Libya” the following activities were implemented: • Training on the Job Medical Team deployed and operating in Ghat district covering Ghat, Tahala and Awainat; • Rehabilitation works at Al Harsha Health Center in Zawya ongoing and almost completed; • Rehabilitation work for the Health Centers in Tahala and Awainat awarded; • Tender for provisioning of medical equipment for Zawya selected health facilities was launched. ICRC IFRC IMC OFDA funded activities: Despite all challenges around the pandemic, IMC maintained the schedule to support 19 PHCC with medical staff and the required medication and equipment. IMC’s mobile medical teams are rotating between those facilities on a fixed schedule to maintain essential services. In the OFDA supported health facilities, IMC medical personnel treated 843 patients in the regular OPD activities. The gender breakdown shows that there were 311 male and 532 female patients in the consultations. Most common morbidities seen during the consultations were hypertension (205 cases), diabetic conditions (162 cases) and upper respiratory tract infections (131 cases). Other patients suffered mostly from gastro-intestinal diseases (79 pat), genito-urinary tract infections (70) and cardiovascular conditions (45). Those common diseases do reflect the overall health conditions in Libya and no specific outbreaks have been observed. In addition to the regular medical consultations, IMC received and followed up 4 male and 15 female patients for mental health conditions. During and/or after medical consultations, IMC distributed 336 dignity kits and 18 hygiene kits to female beneficiaries. IMC, with the involvement of our community health workers, who are part of the mobile medical units, carried out regular health awareness sessions for the patients at the primary health care centers. During the first 2 weeks of December, IMC educated 200 male and 331 female patients on various topics of general health. These awareness sessions are held in groups but still taking the threat of COVID into consideration. This explains why the number of people educated are lower than in the previous months, but still continue uninterrupted. The topics are not only decided by IMC staff but also by wishes of the beneficiaries. The range is from general hygiene to communicable diseases including the current threat of COVID19 related issues. OFDA supported activities in the facilities include a routine screening and triaged for COVID-19. In the first two weeks of December, 845 patients were screened, which included 532 female and 313 male patients. No suspect case was identified during this screening activity, thus no referral for follow-up required. It should be noted that people who have a slight suspicion for COVID19 go to hospital facilities directly and they do not or rarely attend PHCC services. GIZ funded activities: With the support of GIZ, IMC continued its ongoing assessment of primary healthcare centers in the East. Coordinating with the necessary authorities, IMC’s team of enumerators continued visiting PHCCs to conduct needs assessments covering structural needs as well as gaps in technical capacity at the primary healthcare level. As the assessment comes to a close, IMC’s medical team is busy analyzing the data and drafting the final report to be shared later in 2021. UNFPA funded programs: The highlight of IMC’s UNFPA program in the first half of December was the second training of healthcare providers on the clinical management of rape that was conducted in Tripoli from 6. – 12. December. 25 medical professionals, including senior management staff have been trained on CMR. The training was done in collaboration with Ministry of Health. IMC also carried out special trainings on HIV/AIDS in pregnant women for doctors and 24 medical staff in Fashloum, Alqadisia and Aljadeed PHCCs. Taking the sensitivity of the subjects into consideration, IMC is proud to have been able to implement these trainings at the primary healthcare level where they are needed most. IMC’s mobile medical units were able to carry out 388 consultations in the UNFPA supported facilities, seeing 308 females and 80 males. As COVID19 is also a main concern in the medical activities, IMC staff screened 814 patients for signs and symptoms in the first two weeks of December. Of these, 358 were male and 456 were female attendees of the medical services. No suspected case was found that required referral. IMC carried out health awareness sessions on various health topics during half of December. 629 people have received health awareness education during their waiting period for the consultations. 349 female and 280 male patients have been reached through these activities. Also of note here is the fact that the sessions were given following COVID19 precautions of distancing and correct mask usage. EUTF-funded activities under the PEERS project in consortium with CESVI: With the funding of EUTF in collaboration with CESVI, IMC provided medical consultations for 82 patients. Among these were 39 male and 43 female patients. Leading causes of morbidities were hypertension (17 cases), diabetes (14) and upper respiratory tract infections (10 cases). No specific outbreaks or signs for other communicable disease have been found; however, IMC’s team continues to screen patients for TB and triage patients for COVID-19. The 2 supported facilities are located in Central