Reflections on the Early Response to COVID-19 in Libya: A Personal Experience
Introduction:
As memories of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic resurface on social media, I feel compelled to share my experiences and involvement with the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) during those crucial first weeks. My story begins in March 2020, upon my return from Tunisia, and follows my journey to support the NCDC in their response to the impending crisis.
A Worrying Start:
After learning about a potential COVID-19 case from a friend and experiencing a fever myself, I reached out to the NCDC for testing. As the 7th suspected case in the country, I was shocked to see the NCDC's lack of preparedness for the pandemic. Coupled with my personal distrust of the Libyan government, it became apparent that they were not prepared for the urgency of the situation.
Battling Misinformation:
With an influx of misleading information and fake news, as Anhi OU in support of my friend Ahmad Aljazzar, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We developed the Covid19.ly platform to provide accurate, centralized information on the pandemic and case numbers in Libya. In the beginning, the NCDC failed to recognize the importance of our platform until to started to be the main source of information, with huge daily visits.
A Call to Action:
As a scout leader, I am no stranger to stepping up and volunteering for my community. Together with my friend Aseel Almahadawi, we took the initiative to support the NCDC in their efforts to combat the pandemic. Over several meetings with NCDC managers and the director, we proposed a comprehensive emergency response plan, covering communication, logistics, and resource mobilization.
Our team at Hexa Connection worked tirelessly to verify the NCDC's Facebook page, developed a media plan for their radio broadcasts, and helped edit their first public announcement of a COVID-19 case in Libya. With the support of my friend Ahmed Albibas, Moomken NGO's call centre was able to field questions related to the pandemic in less than 24 hours.
Challenges and Disillusionment:
Despite our best efforts, the dynamics changed when the Presidential Council allocated billions of Libyan dinars to the national response committee. The influx of funding led to an abrupt change in attitude among NCDC employees, who failed to grasp our voluntary and civic-minded motivations. As a result, we were gradually pushed away from the NCDC. In a final twist of irony, last January, I was warned by a friend that I had been falsely accused of working for international intelligence lol!
Conclusion:
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing attack on Tripoli, our early efforts to support the NCDC were driven by a sense of duty to our community. Unfortunately, these efforts were ultimately overshadowed by political manoeuvring and unfounded accusations. As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded of the importance of unity, trust, and collaboration in times of crisis and the need to understand the role of civil society.