A campaign raising awareness about the early diagnosis of breast cancer in Libya revealed on Monday that 150 breast cancer cases have been detected in Derna, Libya, and surrounding areas; nine of which are advanced.
These cases were referred to al-Bayda hospital to be subjected to urgent treatment.
Cancer ranks second in the list of causes of death in Libya in the past five years, especially among women and children.
To raise awareness about the fatal disease, campaigns have been launched to make help with early diagnosis of breast cancer across Libya.
Detecting 150 breast cancer cases in only one city has fueled fears in Libya, and the situation is worsening due to deteriorating living conditions and hospitals in Libya due to the lack of drugs and funding.
“Health is a major concern in Libya. Historically, Libya’s incapacitated health system is further deteriorated due to fragmented governance, limited financial resources, deficient human resources, acute shortage of lifesaving medicines and basic equipment, a debilitated primary health-care (PHC) network, and neglected health services,” the World Health Organization (WHO)’s report issued in June-July 2017.
The report marked that 17 out of 97 hospitals and over 20 percent health care facilities are closed and only 4 hospital are functional between 75-80 percent of their capacity.
“Health needs of IDPs, refugees and migrants have increased manifold as well as their vulnerabilities in detention centers,” according to the WHO.
