22 October 2018 – WHO, in partnership with Ministry of Health of Libya, the National Centre for Disease Control and UNICEF, inaugurated the first activity of a national measles and polio vaccination campaign that will take place from 15 to 20 October 2018. The nationwide campaign will target 1 965 250 children aged between 6 months and 15 years. Children of Libyans and non-Libyans, including those in detentions centres and internally displaced settlements, will be targeted equally. In July, 2018 the Libyan Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of measles, since then the virus has been circulating across various districts in the country.

“The launch of the first activity of the much-awaited national campaign is a major breakthrough not only for WHO but for all health sector partners and children in Libya. Over the past few weeks, WHO along with other sister agencies has been mobilizing internal and external resources to save the lives of Libyan and non-Libyan children who are susceptible to this outbreak,” said Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, Representative and Head of Mission of WHO Libya.

Other cascade trainings will follow in preparation for the national vaccination that will start in the second week of November 2018.