By Sami Zaptia.
London, 13 March 2021:
Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), said he and the Libyan public at large are unhappy about how the country’s anti-Coronavirus effort has gone so far. He said he was not in a celebratory mood and that action needed to be taken immediately to bring the pandemic under control.
Aldabaiba was speaking at today’s National Covid-19 Conference and Exhibition at the Rixos Centre, Tripoli. It will continue for another two days.
Aldabaiba said that unfortunately, no work has been done to combat this pandemic, and that different thinking must be adopted.
He recognized that great efforts have been made, but that the results were negligible. Huge sums were spent he confirmed, but that the vaccine failed to arrive.
Aldabaiba said commercial companies must think with the government to fight the pandemic.
He said the vaccine must arrive as soon as possible and at any price. He said Libya was ‘‘very, very late’’ in procuring the vaccine. ‘‘This is my government’s priority, I pledge this to you’’.
He pointed out that his government started its work only two days ago, and that the vaccine will be distributed to the specialized centres to reach all citizens and residents. Even illegal residents as this is a humanitarian matter, he stressed.
He noted that the Coronavirus isolation/quarantine centres were suffering from a lack of places and supplies.
The prime minister noted that the Libyan public has forgotten that Libya is going through a pandemic. He complained of a lack of awareness and restriction to social distancing. He said Libyans are socialising as if there is no pandemic.
He said there is a need for a new and real drive and campaign and with a new spirit. We must impose restrictions and need to reduce deaths.
He said that the pandemic was beginning to affect younger age groups. It is the responsibility of all Libyans and there is a need for more awareness and wearing masks must become compulsory.
