7 May 2025, Tripoli, Libya – With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Centre for Disease Control has launched a comprehensive desk and field review of Libya’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The review, which began on 3 May 2025 and will continue until 15 May 2025, is being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). A team of local and international experts is evaluating the performance of the national immunization programme across 12 municipalities and 48 health facilities. 

The EPI review, also known as the National Immunization Programme Review, is a systematic assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the immunization programme at the national, subnational and service delivery levels. It will provide evidence to inform the development of the National Immunization Strategy for 2025 and help align Libya’s efforts with global and regional targets under the Immunization Agenda 2030. Previous studies, including the 2014 Pan Arab Project for Family Health (PAPFAM) and the 2024 post-campaign National Immunization Days report, indicate that measles vaccination coverage among children under 5 is between 70–85%, revealing a possible gap between administrative reporting and population-level coverage. 

Libya’s vast geography, ongoing internal population movements and the presence of an estimated 700 000 undocumented migrants pose significant challenges to consistent and equitable vaccine access. These factors increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, underscoring the importance of this in-depth evaluation. 

The review covers essential aspects of the immunization programme, including leadership and governance, programme management, service delivery, cold chain logistics, disease surveillance, community outreach and data quality. It follows WHO's global methodology, emphasizing a performance-focused and health system–sensitive approach, with strong stakeholder participation. 

WHO is fully engaged at all 3 levels – Headquarters, the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Country Office – in leading the review. WHO is providing robust technical leadership throughout the process, from planning and customizing review tools to delivering 3 days of intensive training for 22 internal reviewers in Tripoli. The training focused on equipping participants with the skills necessary for effective field data collection. WHO also deployed specialized consultants to ensure high-quality implementation, reflecting the Organization’s commitment to strengthening Libya’s immunization system. 

At the conclusion of the review, findings and strategic recommendations will be formally presented to the Ministry of Health and national stakeholders. The results will guide evidence-based decision-making to improve immunization coverage, service quality and long-term sustainability. 

The initiative has been made possible by financial support from the European Union. 

For more information, please contact:

Yahya Bouzo , Communication Officer, WHO Libya Country Office: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it