Amidst reports that medical supplies were in danger of perishing as a result of Libya’s extensive power cuts and blackouts this summer, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported yesterday that it had distributed over 300 solar-powered refrigerators to mitigate the power outages the country experienced over the past year.
It also revealed that it had also equipped all health facilities providing vaccination services with accurate temperature monitoring devices to ensure vaccine safety and quality.
As part of its emergency preparedness efforts, the NCDC had also trained municipal vaccination supervisors last month on procedures to follow during power outages.
The NCDC also revealed that it had supplied municipalities with partial shipments, while maintaining the larger stock in its main warehouses, which are equipped with refrigerated rooms and alternative power sources.
Despite the challenges faced by some municipalities due to power outages and fuel shortages, the NCDC said several supporting entities contributed to providing supplies and assisting in stock rotation to ensure the continuity of services.
Ministry of Health conducts field monitoring of vaccine warehouses
Meanwhile, and in the same vein, the Tripoli Ministry of Health reported that its Inspection and Follow-up Department conducted a field visit to the warehouses of the Supply and Pharmacy Office of the Tripoli Health Services.
This visit was part of ongoing monitoring of operations, assessing warehouse conditions and vaccine storage procedures, and verifying information circulating about them.
It also came on the back of social media reports that medicines stocks were in danger of perishing due to the extensive power cuts.
The visit, the Ministry continued, included reviewing storage and organizational procedures within the warehouses, monitoring compliance with approved requirements and standards, and ensuring the stability of the electricity supply and the operation of alternative power sources when needed. This, it explained, is to guarantee the maintenance of appropriate storage conditions for medicines and medical supplies.
The visit is part of the field monitoring activities carried out by the Inspection and Follow-up Department to enhance oversight of health facilities and ensure the safety of medical supplies and the quality of their storage conditions, the Ministry concluded.