SHAMS: Sustainable Healthcare Access for municipalities in the South of Libya
General objective
Helping improve access to medical services for the people of the Fezzan.
Specific objective
Increasing opportunities for access of the population, including the most vulnerable categories, to medical services supplied in energy self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable facilities.
Expected results
The supply of medical services will be supported through redevelopment of the facilities identified and improvement of their efficiency, encouraging acceptance by the institutions in charge
Access to and accessibility of medical services will be promoted by improving awareness of health requirements among the community and particularly vulnerable groups, improving the resources available to them.
About the project
The project, which began on 11 July 2022 and is expected to last 12 months, fits into the context of the support we provide to a number of hospitals in the Fezzan area. To achieve the goal of increasing opportunities for access to these facilities, the project implements a series of actions directly affecting beneficiaries’ living conditions and improving the Libyan healthcare system overall. 12 medical centres have been selected (11 for dialysis and one oncological centre) in the area, where three infrastructure projects will be implemented:
- Supply of photovoltaic installations for the generation of energy, to mitigate the risk of blackouts while medical services are being supplied and guarantee energy self-sufficiency in the facility for at least 5 hours following a blackout.
- Supply of materials for disposal of medical waste, to mitigate the risk of epidemics.
- Elimination of architectural barriers, to improve access to the facilities.
These actions will be completed with specific training:
- Functioning and maintenance of photovoltaic installations: Training of trainers for 12 technicians in the Libyan energy management company, who will in turn train 36 employees of medical centres.
- Management of hospital waste for 60 hospital employees.
Additional actions are intended to improve awareness and education among the population:
- A campaign promoting and educating about rational use of natural resources for young people in the communities of Ghat and Ubari, including specific content focusing on garbage and garbage disposal, wasting energy and wasting water. The intention is to promote new habits improving use and conservation of resources to address present and future climate change.
- Development of a technical document/checklist for the accessibility of buildings and training of local technicians, local authorities, and persons with disabilities.
- A campaign promoting awareness among the population of the importance of medical care in support of the local authorities’ initiatives, promoting periodic screening for prevention and treatment, vaccination and good health and hygiene.
The project will see the direct involvement of local authorities including the Municipalities, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Activities, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Governates, Associations in Libyan Civic Society, the National Libyan Electricity Operator and, of course, the management and staff of the hospitals involved.
Cost of the action
1.025.600 €
Beneficiaries
- Staff of the 12 medical facilities: 72 people
- Technical staff: 36 people
- Young people involved in the campaign promoting awareness: 60
- Students, parents and caregiversinvolved in the campaign promoting awareness: 96.700 people
Financial backers
Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)
Project partners
- Terre des Hommes
- ODP (Organization of Development Pioneers)
Project coordinator
Matteo Saraceno
Country representative – Libya and Tunisia