Libya:ICRC trains 120 doctors to treat weapon-related wounds

Libya: ICRC trains 120 doctors in treatment of weapon-related wounds

Tripoli, 4 December 2012 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Libyan Ministry of Health and the Libyan Red Crescent will hold a two-day seminar in Tripoli on 5 and 6 December to train 120 doctors from different parts of Libya to treat wounds caused by mines, bullets, shrapnel and other weapons.

The seminar will focus on enhancing the surgical skills of Libyan surgeons working for the Ministry of Health, who treat casualties of armed conflict with often-limited resources. Leading Libyan surgeons and other doctors will join ICRC specialists in providing theoretical and practical instruction.

"Topics to be covered include trauma surgery, weapon wounds, first aid, coping with massive influxes of casualties, and the rights and obligations of medical personnel under international humanitarian law," said Bernadette Gleeson, the ICRC health delegate in Tripoli.

"The Ministry of Health is working to enhance the capacities of Libyan doctors to provide immediate care to the injured because their intervention could make the difference between death and life," said Minister of Health Dr Nuriddin Dughman. "The ministry is ensuring that participants are diversified to represent all Libyan regions and to work with humanitarian organizations to improve medical and health services in our country."

The events in Libya last year showed that there was a need for such training. "This is the fifth workshop the ICRC has organized," said Ishfaq Muhammad Khan, the head of the ICRC delegation in Libya. "We hope that it will enhance the knowledge of care providers so that wounded people will receive proper treatment on the spot."

The ICRC has acquired considerable expertise in caring for victims of armed conflict in difficult conditions, particularly where the health-care system has been severely disrupted.

For further information, please visit our website: www.icrc.org

ENDS

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