The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Libya reported last Sunday (1 December) that between 27 and 28 November, 42 senior health and disaster response officers from public hospitals in Libya were trained in the use of the Hospital Safety Index (HSI) tool during a hands-on training workshop organized by the Health Emergency Directorate (HED) of the Libyan Ministry of Health.
The two-day workshop in Tripoli was supported by WHO experts from the three levels of the Organization – WHO headquarters in Geneva, the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo and the Country Office in Tripoli.
Identifying hazards that pose a risk
Participants were trained to identify hazards that pose a risk to hospital safety, assess the structural, non-structural and functional elements used to calculate the HSI, identify the core components of effective emergency and disaster management and systematise the evaluation and analysis of hospital findings to enhance resilience.
Strengthening hospital resilience in the post-COVID era
WHO says it comes as part of strengthening hospital resilience to all types of hazards while maintaining essential services – particularly in the post-COVID era. A crucial component of the initiative is assessing hospital vulnerability using the HSI tool comprising 151 elements.
Tool provides a snapshot
The tool provides a snapshot of the probability that a hospital can continue to function in emergency situations and is an important first step in prioritising investment in making hospitals safer.
Libya has to catch up with highest safety levels
WHO said while hospital safety in Libya has improved compared to previous years due to continuous disaster prevention and preparedness activities there is still work to be done to reach the highest levels of safety.
WHO said it is committed to supporting Libya strengthen hospital resilience across the country through the application of the hospital-resilience operation guide.
