A “special” memorandum of understanding was signed by the health ministers of Libya and Malta yesterday, outlining open-ended collaborations in the field.
Malta can help in hospital management, the teaching of English and also by lending its expertise. It has a system we trust in
The health department would be helping its neighbour, still recovering from a revolution, in human resources, procurement, education in management and specialisation, Health Minister Joe Cassar said.
Technical groups from both countries will be meeting in the coming weeks to put the plans into practice.
The signing marked a “historical moment” – the anniversary of the day the Mirage fighter jets defected to Malta and were allowed to land. It was a “momentous” move that saved thousands of lives, said an emotional Dr Cassar, adding that Malta continued to play that role.
Once again, it had proudly lived up to its role of “nurse of the Mediterranean”, inherited from previous conflicts, and had done something worthwhile for its neighbours.
In a matter of less than three hours yesterday, the government’s procurement services managed to accede to a request by Libyan Health Minister Fatma Hamroush for urgent medication.
Dr Cassar presented her with a box of steroids, tetanus and pain medication as a “token”.
Dr Hamroush said the Libyan health system was “not completely absent”, but a lack of proper management prior to the revolution and the strain of the war had taken their toll.
The problem was a shortage of equipment in some sectors, as well as staff, while education had declined over the years and needed to be looked into.
“We have good doctors, but not enough,” she said, highlighting the need for experts to teach Libya’s junior doctors and nurses.
Malta could help in hospital management, the teaching of English and also by lending its expertise. It was the closest country Libyan patients could be sent to for treatment and had a system “we trust in”, she said.
Referring to the first anniversary, Dr Hamroush commended the bravery of the defected pilots and the “truly serious and heroic decision” of the Maltese government this time last year.
“We are today celebrating those worrying moments in a better atmosphere,” she said.