Tripoli: The Ministry of Health of the Government of National Unity, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has initiated the first phase of training at the municipal level within the National Health Visitor Program in Abu Salim Municipality. This initiative is designed to advance community-based primary healthcare services and transition the program into its field implementation phase at the municipal level.
According to Libyan News Agency, the program's launch was attended by several notable figures, including UNICEF Representative in Libya, Filippo Mazzari; WHO Representative, Dr. Mohamed Hashim; Mayor of Abu Salim, Mahmoud Attia; Director of Health Services in Abu Salim Municipality, Khaled Suleiman Al-Qallali; and Dr. Marwa Mohamed Idris, Director of the Medical Services Office and Supervisor of the Health Visitor Team in Abu Salim Municipality. Members of the Abu Salim Municipal Council and the Health Visitor Team were also present.
UNICEF Representative Filippo Mazzarelli highlighted the significance of this training phase as a milestone in the National Health Visitor Program. Following the national training of trainers, the program now focuses on enhancing community-based primary healthcare and empowering children and families to access health services locally. He praised Abu Salim Municipality for setting an example by hosting this initial training phase and underscored UNICEF's commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health and its partners in extending the program across Libya.
Mayor Mahmoud Attia affirmed that Abu Salim Municipality receives direct support from the Ministry of Health to enhance health services within local health centers and hospitals. He emphasized the primary goal of ensuring citizens' access to optimal health services and expressed the Municipal Council's dedication to supporting medical personnel to benefit the public interest. Strengthening cooperation with UNICEF and the Health Services Administration was also highlighted as a priority to improve healthcare quality for citizens.
Dr. Marwa Mohamed Idris, speaking to the Libyan News Agency, described the training launch as an embodiment of decentralization in healthcare services by bringing them closer to citizens. The program aims for more equitable and comprehensive health coverage across municipalities, focusing on prevention and early detection of health issues within the community. This approach helps build trust with families through training healthcare professionals from within the municipalities, enhancing health awareness campaigns, and reducing pressure on hospitals.
She elaborated on the role of health visitors as intermediaries between the healthcare system and families, tasked with monitoring maternal and child health, promoting vaccination awareness, and assessing home safety, among other responsibilities. The first training phase in Abu Salim includes 24 trainees, focusing on communication skills, field health assessment, home visit management, health education, and emergency response. Health visitors are selected based on qualifications in nursing, midwifery, public health, or allied health sciences, residency, fieldwork ability, and professional ethics.
The program also utilizes a field and digital supervision system to ensure quality performance through direct monitoring and electronic documentation. It involves performance indicator measurement and periodic training programs to enhance the health visitors' skills. This training is part of the National Health Visitor Program initiated by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF in June 2026, aiming to train 3,500 health visitors across Libya by 2028, focusing on prevention services, health education, early detection, and referrals to primary healthcare for mothers, children, newborns, and vulnerable groups.