(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
On Monday, Germany’s embassy to Libya announced that it has committed to support the United Nation’s Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) efforts to vaccinate children in Libya. Germany supported UNICEF vaccination project in Libya with a donation of one million euro.
The donation would endorse the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Libya allowing vulnerable children access to vaccination that can save their lives.
The announcement came after the German Ambassador Christian Much met with UNICEF’s Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Khalil to sign the agreement of Germany’s donation to UNICEF for Libyan children’s vaccination.
“Children comprise around 40 percent of the Libyan population, and they are considered as the most vulnerable. Helping them is a huge priority. This is why we are now increasing our assistance to children for the second time in 2016,” Much said.
Khalil adds that “the support of Germany to the immunization system in Libya comes very timely during very difficult circumstances. UNICEF is very grateful for Germany’s generous contribution and continuous support to the children of Libya.”
Germany’s donation will allow UNICEF to expand its immunization program in Libya to be able to offer quality services to not only support Libyan children’s survival but to also promote their 8
development and growth.
The six areas that the program will focus on are: (1) cold chain and vaccine management, (2) information sharing systems, (3) mid-level managers training on immunization, (4) new-born mortality and morbidity reduction, (5) reduction of under-5 morbidity and mortality, and (6) development of a communication plan for the immunization program.