The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through the Stabilization Facility for Libya (SFL), installed a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 400 m3/day at the National Heart Center (NHC) in Tajoura to improve sanitation for the 15,000 patients that the hospital receives per year and to more than 1,400 people who live nearby the health center. The existing plant was out of service for many years. It was dilapidated, and without possible reparation. As a consequence, sewage water was pumped behind the hospital, causing pollution and harm to patients and residents living nearby. Today, after installing the new treatment plant handed over by UNDP through the Stabilization Facility for Libya with support from 13 international partners and the government of Libya through the Ministry of Planning, the hospital will no more suffer from negative effects generated by untreated wastewater. The plant has a design capacity that would be able to absorb additional waste treatment in the future from near neighborhoods. During the handover ceremony that took place at the NHC in Tajoura, Abdulfatah Bin Otman, mayor of Tajour Municipality, said: "As Tajoura Municipality is not connected to the Man Made River network, water can be used after purification in many areas, including irrigation and washing, as well as for firefighting trucks. We are happy that the project will greatly change the health situation not only inside the hospital but also in the whole municipality." On his part, Dr. Abdulraouf Fares, director of the NHC, stated: "Doctors, nurses, patients and residents outside the hospital were affected by the stagnant water that was causing diseases due to insects in addition to the bad odor that make people feel uncomfortable. "Today, we are very happy to receive this station that will serve people not only from Tajoura area but also from other areas as the hospital receives patients from all regions of the country." UNDP Resident Representative in Libya, Gerardo Noto, declared: "UNDP works closely with national and local authorities to improve the quality of life for everyone in Libya. "Solving the sanitation issue at the National Heart Center in Tajoura is an example of our efforts towards the health sector and to contribute to a healthy environment which is one of the sustainable development goals that we are pursuing to improve the wellbeing of people in Libya and more sustainable cities in the country." The NHC is one of the most important hospitals in Libya that treat heart diseases. It is providing other medical services as well, including dialysis, obstetrics and gynecology. It attends patients from all the regions of the country. The SFL supports municipalities to rehabilitate essential service facilities and boost capacities to improve basic service delivery around the country. — SG
