Some 400,000 doses of TB vaccines distributed in Libya

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A first batch of 400,000 doses of BCG vaccines for the prevention of the tuberculosis virus, aimed at newborns, was distributed on Tuesday to vaccination centers in Libya, the National Centre for Disease Control announced on Wednesday

In a statement, the centre said that the distribution of the first batch comes after the completion of the release procedures on shipment for the manufacturer.

Abdelbasset Samio, director of the vaccination department of the Centre for Disease Control, said 400,000 doses of the vaccines arrived two weeks ago.

In December 2018, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) organised a week-long national immunization campaign, targeting about 2.75 million children aged aged from 0 to 15 years old, to immunize them against measles, rubella and polio, in addition to a dose of vitamin A.

The eight years of insecurity in Libya since 2011, the date of the February 17th revolution, have led to the deterioration of health facilities and equipment, as well as staff shortage.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 30Oct2019