By Adam Ali.
Benghazi, 25 November 2014:
As the Libyan Army presses forward in its efforts to take back Benghazi from extremist elements, . . .[restrict]health care workers are risking their lives to serve the wounded in understaffed and hospitals and clinics.
According to the spokesperson for Al-Jala Hospital in Benghazi, the facility had received over the past two days 25 wounded soldiers from the Libyan Army who were injured during clashes in Gwarsha, Sabri, Laithi and Almasaken. Fourteen of the 25 were treated and discharged in the same day, while the other 11, some of whom are suffering from critical injuries, are still receiving care. Thirty year-old Saiqa Special Forces member Mosbah Saad Mosbah Souai, who suffered a serious head injury, has died despite efforts by doctors to save his life.
The Benghazi Kidney Centre has called for health workers to return to their jobs immediately to help meet the needs of the current “exceptional” situation. In a statement released Sunday, the centre said that it suffered from a “severe” lack of medical staff and that it was necessary to “intensify efforts” to look after patients.
The centre went on to say that, because of the departure of so many of the foreign medical workers, it was essential that all Libyan health care professionals report to work.
“Those who do not report for work are dodging their humanitarian, social, national and religious responsibilities toward the patients,” the statement said.
Because the security situation is so tense and it is difficult to get to the centre’s Hawari location from some areas, the Kidney Centre has established a number of different locations in the city of Benghazi for the treatment of patients, the statement said.
As the need for more blood has grown, the Central Blood Bank in Benghazi has called on citizens to donate. The blood drive is being organised by the Scouts and Guides of Libya in partnership with the Libyan Red Crescent.
In the midst of the blood and personnel shortages in Benghazi, the health care workers who are there and who have committed to treat the wounded, regardless of affiliation, are at risk of being targeted by either side in the streets.
According to a Red Crescent member who wishes to remain anonymous, his brother was detained at an Ansar Al-Sharia checkpoint because his surname had a well-known connection to the Libyan Army.
The guards searched the car and confiscated their phones and car keys. During the ordeal, a jet fighter appeared overhead to fire at the checkpoint, so the guards fled, returning the car keys but retaining the phones, saying: “You can have your car keys, but we have your phone and know where you live. We are not yet finished with you.” [/restrict]
