Libya Prepares for Rolling Out Vaccines

WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
TT

Libya Prepares for Rolling Out Vaccines

WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)

Libya has been preparing to launch the national vaccination campaign, at a time when the coronavirus cases exceeded 166,000 in the country.

The National Center for Disease Control published on Thursday guidelines, calling on citizens who wish to receive the vaccine to constantly check body temperature, coughing, critical diseases, or any type of allergy.

The Center stressed that any side effects must be checked, especially one to three weeks after getting the vaccine.

Libya received on Sunday the first shipment of Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V.

"It is the first drop of rain. Thank God, we are able to supply the first batch of coronavirus vaccine," Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh said. "The rest of the shipment will arrive in succession," he added, without giving further details.

WHO Libya has expressed commitment to continue its support to the Government of Libya, and the National Center for Disease Control in the fight against COVID-19.

WHO said some volunteers are exerting relentless efforts in Benghazi to raise awareness in the community. In addition, they are distributing facemasks, sterilizers, and fliers guide with the support of USAID.

In the same context, the Primary Health Care Institute (PHCI) in cooperation with the Center held a workshop to offer training on the delivery of vaccines.

Twenty-seven new deaths linked to the coronavirus have been recorded in 11 Libyan cities, bringing the total fatalities to 28,000.

The National Center further announced on Thursday that up to 869 new cases have been recorded in Libya, while recoveries reached 152,000.



Ex-Tunisian Minister Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Ex-Tunisian Minister Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Criminal Chamber specialized in financial corruption cases at the Court of First Instance of Tunis, sentenced on Friday former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher to three years in prison, the Tunisian official news agency, TAP, reported.
The ruling is part of a corruption case related to breaches in a transaction carried out by the former minister for the purchase of several vehicles.
Investigation showed that the tender conditions were allegedly manipulated in favor of one particulate supplier.
In addition to Mouakher, the Chamber condemned a civil protection executive, seconded to the Environment Ministry, to two years in prison.
The two defendants are found guilty of abusing their functions to obtain an undue advantage, and therefore causing harm to the administration and contravening the regulations in force.
On Thursday, the Criminal Chamber specialized in corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced a security officer to three years in prison and four others to four years in prison on charges of abusing their functions to obtain an undue advantage and harm others.
The five security officers had formed a group for the purpose of attacking property and exploiting a public employee.
According to documents related to the case, surveillance activities revealed that the five defendants, who work at a central department, were involved in seizing private funds, giving night jobs to some department agents, and transferring the profits to their personal accounts.
Their case was first examined by the Financial Chamber, which decided to sentence the five security guards to prison.
The case was later referred to the Criminal Chamber that examines financial corruption cases. The chamber had earlier kept the five defendants at liberty, before issuing late on Thursday the prison sentences.