Roles

Altaher Ibrahim Ahmed Altabet is a faculty member in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Technology, with the rank of Professor of Medical Mycology and Virology. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Barak, Sabha University, 1983, Sabha, Libya. He also holds a PhD in Medical Microbiology from the Division of Infection and Immunity, Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, 1997. He also has great interests in the field of environmental health and infection control, as he is considered a national expert in medical waste management. He has cooperated as a scientific advisor in the field of medical waste management with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNICEF Libya (UNICEF), and the International Medical Corps (IMC) and a former scientific advisor with the General Authority for the Environment and the Libyan Ministry of Health. He has many publications and scientific contributions in his field of specialization. Among his works, he contributed to the committee for enacting the Medical Waste Management Law under the supervision of a committee from the Libyan Parliament, as well as as Chairman of the Committee for Developing the National Strategy and Executive Regulations for Integrated Medical Waste Management for Libya in the General Authority for the Environment in Libya 2005-2007. This committee supervised the development of the executive regulations for integrated medical waste management (a law for managing medical waste). He also has many certificates specialized in training trainers from the World Health Organization in the field of safety and biosecurity and in the field of life sciences research. He attended many scientific workshops in the field of biosecurity assessment. He also contributed to the National Center for Disease Control in many committees and rapid response teams for several diseases, including Ebola. He also contributed to several scientific committees in several conferences, including:1- Member of the Scientific Committee of the Second Scientific Conference on Communicable and Endemic Diseases for the year 2009 at the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Endemic Diseases. Tripoli, Libya2- Head of the team tasked with developing a proposal for a legislative text for the treatment of medical waste and how to destroy it and establish the necessary controls for that. The committee was formed by the Chairman of the Permanent National Committee for Bioethics and Biosafety at the Ministry of Higher Education, 2009.3- Member of the Scientific Committee of the First Conference of Medical Laboratories 22-26/9/1997 Al-Mahari Hotel in Tripoli, which was organized by the Syndicate of Allied Medical Professions in Tripoli.4- Member of the Scientific Committee of the First Conference on Hospital Health and Infection at Tripoli Medical Center 28/9/2002 Tripoli - Libya.5- Member of the National Committee for Bioethics and Biosafety, Ministry of Health, 10/2004 to date.6- Member of the Scientific Committee for Combating Hospital Infections at the National Center for Prevention and Control of Communicable and Endemic Diseases in Libya 2004 - 2010 (www.nidcc.org.ly).7- Member of the Environmental Affairs Follow-up Committee of the General People’s Committee for Inspection and Control, formerly 10/2004-2006. It is a committee to which major environmental issues of concern to the state were referred to obtain a sound scientific opinion. It consists of specialists in various fields of environmental pollution and environmental sanitation programs.

Careers

1. Head of the Examination Committee for the second year students of five departments at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 1998

2. Head of the Examination Committee for the first year at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 1999

3. Director of the Faculty Affairs Office at the Faculty of Medical Technology and Member of the Faculty Affairs Committee at the University of Tripoli (Promotion and Appointment Committee) 1999-2006.

4. Dean of the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, from 4/2004 to 8/2007.

5. Head of the Department of Pathology at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 09-2010.

6. Head of the Department of Pathology at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 13-2015.

7. Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 16-2017.

8. Director of the Postgraduate Studies Office at the Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli, 2018-2021.

Research Interests

• Member of the Scientific Committee for the Evaluation of Scientific Research in the Field of Environmental Sciences for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Graduates Applying for the Libya Innovation Award at Bab Al Bahr Hotel under the supervision of the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, December 20, 2022, Tripoli - Libya.
• Member of the Scientific Committee for the Preparation of the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Workforce Development Center, Human Resources Department, Libyan Ministry of Health 2017-2019.
• Member of the Preparatory Committee for the Scientific Symposium on "Environmental Risks to Health" under the slogan "Pollution - Effects - Health" under the supervision of the Environmental Sanitation Department in the Health Protection and Promotion Department at the National Center for Disease Control on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Tripoli, Libya.
•  Member of the Scientific Committee for the "First National Conference on Marine Pollution and Groundwater" at Al Mahari Hotel (Radisson Blu) February 26, 2018, under the auspices of Rakeza Conferences and Exhibitions Company and Al-Hadhara Private University, Tripoli - Libya.
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Arbitration of Scientific Research formed by the Director General of the National Center for Disease Control by Resolution No. 92 of 2015. This committee is tasked with evaluating research projects and surveys according to models prepared by the Office of Research and Scientific Committees, 9/15/2015.
• Member of the working group on proposing a draft law on the basics and rules of biosafety in research and diagnostic laboratories formed by the National Committee for Biosafety and Bioethics at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research 2013.
• Chairman of the Medical Waste Management Committee at the Ministry of Health 2010-2013, a committee formed by a decision of the Minister of Health to investigate the proper ways to dispose of pharmaceutical waste accumulated in state hospitals, drug stores and health centers of various specialties over several years, as well as to work on establishing a sound, integrated management in the ministry, specifically dealing with medical waste produced by hospitals and health facilities in Libya from the point of production in the treatment departments to the final stage, which is final disposal in landfills and sanitary landfills.

• Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Public Health Laboratories at the National Center for Disease Control 2013
• Chairman of the Committee for Developing the National Strategy and Executive Regulations for Integrated Management of Medical Waste for Libya at the General Authority for the Environment in Libya 2005-2007, this committee supervised the development of the Executive Regulations for Integrated Management of Medical Waste (Law for Medical Waste Management) (www.enviroment.org.ly).
• Member of the Scientific Committee for the Second Scientific Conference on Communicable and Endemic Diseases for the year 2009 at the National Center for Prevention and Control of Communicable and Endemic Diseases. Tripoli, Libya
• Head of the team tasked with developing a proposal for a legislative text for the treatment of medical waste and how to destroy it and setting the necessary controls for that. The committee was formed by the Chairman of the Permanent National Committee for Bioethics and Biosafety at the Ministry of Higher Education, 2009.
• Member of the Scientific Committee of the First Conference of Medical Laboratories 22-26/9/1997 Al-Mahari Hotel in Tripoli, which was organized by the Syndicate of Allied Medical Professions in Tripoli.
•  Member of the Scientific Committee of the First Conference on Hospital Health and Infection at Tripoli Medical Center 28/9/2002 Tripoli - Libya.
• Member of the National Committee for Bioethics and Biosafety, Ministry of Health, 10/2004.
• Member of the Scientific Committee for Combating Hospital Infections at the National Center for Prevention and Control of Communicable and Endemic Diseases in Libya 2004 - 2010 (www.nidcc.org.ly).
• Member of the Environmental Affairs Follow-up Committee of the General People’s Committee for Inspection and Control, formerly 10/2004 - 2006. It is a committee to which major environmental issues of concern to the state were referred to obtain a sound scientific opinion. It consists of specialists in various fields of environmental pollution and environmental sanitation programs.

External Activities

Membership of administrative committees formed by His Excellency the Minister of Education:

• Member of a committee formed by decision of the Minister of Education No. 2976 issued for the year 2017, which conducts preliminary screening and final evaluation of applicants for the position of deans in one of the following colleges: Colleges of Medical Technology, Colleges of Nursing, and Colleges of Public Health in Libyan universities.
• A committee formed by the former Secretary of Higher Education to consider the possibility of converting the Intermediate Health Institute for Girls (Intermediate Diploma) in the city of Zliten, affiliated with the Department of Technical Education and Higher Institutes, into a College of Medical Technology and a College of Nursing (Bachelor's). (Decision No.?) for the year 2009.
• Member of the inspection and evaluation committees for the management and quality of private universities in the city of Tripoli, affiliated with the Department of Participatory Education (Private Universities), formed by the Minister of Education by decision No. ..? for the year ...?

General Scientific Consultations:

•  Collaborating Scientific Advisor in the field of medical waste management with the United Nations Development Program Libya (UNDP) and UNICEF Libya (UNICEF) August-September 2020 regarding a joint project between the two organizations funded by the United Nations to establish sound medical waste management in several Libyan cities.
•  Collaborating Scientific Advisor in the field of medical waste management with UNICEF Libya (UNICEF-Libya) since November 15, 2021 in a project to localize sound management for treating medical waste for isolation centers for patients infected with the Corona virus through the use of modern shredding and sterilization devices in four cities in the greater eastern regions (Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Tobruk).
•  Training consultant for the International Medical Corps (IMC), an American non-profit organization that supervised the training of health workers in the cities of Nalut and Zintan from September 14, 2022 to October 20, 2022.
•  Member of the committee to prepare the draft law for the management of healthcare waste for the Libyan state by the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives since August 18, 2021.
•  Chairman of the Advisory Committee to consider the most appropriate technical specifications for medical waste incinerators and sterilizers supplied to the National Center for Disease Control in Tripoli 2013
•  Technical consultation for the General Authority for the Environment in Libya: regarding the installation of a French incinerator with two chambers for medical waste supplied by a private company to the Tripoli Medical Center 1/1/2009.
•  Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Medical Laboratories and Blood Banks of the Medical Laboratories Department of the General People's Committee for Health and Environment previously 2009 (currently the Ministry of Health), which is the department responsible for following up on everything related to laboratories and medical analysis laboratories in the public and private sectors.
•  Consultation for the General Environment Authority in Libya: Regarding the import of a biological pesticide (BioRat) from outside Libya containing Salmonella enteritidis bacteria to eliminate and reduce the rodent scourge in Libya 10/30/2006.
•  Member of the Advisory Committee for the General Environment Authority in Libya: Regarding the selection of a central incinerator at the level of the Libyan state to dispose of hazardous waste such as pesticides, medicines and chemical residues 5/7/2006, this committee works in coordination with a committee formed by the General Staff of the Libyan Army to dispose of hazardous chemical waste.
•  Former member of the Advisory Committee for the Secretariat of Facilities and Housing: Regarding the selection of a suitable sanitary landfill for the city of Al-Bayda, eastern Libya, 2005, instead of the old landfill.
• Consultation for the National Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in the city of Tripoli (quality control): Regarding identifying the reasons behind the recurrence of post-operative infections in patients undergoing surgeries (post-operative infections) in the operating room and recovery room at the center, and what are the best ways to prevent such infections in the future 4/4/2002.

Contribution to the preparation of internal regulations and curricula for Libyan university colleges and higher institutes:

•  Contribution to the preparation of curricula for the Department of Medical Laboratories at the Higher Health Institute for Girls in Zahraa City 1997-1998.
•  Contribution to the preparation of curricula for the Department of Medical Laboratories at the Higher Health Institute for Girls in Al-Qarahbuli City 2000-2001.
•  Member of the committee to prepare curricula and internal regulations for the College of Medical Technology/University of the Western Mountains in Nalut City 2005-2006.
•  Member of the committee to prepare curricula and internal regulations for the College of Medical Technology/University of Al-Tahadi in the city of Hun in 2006.
•  Preparing the curriculum for medical microbiology for students of the College of Dentistry at Al-Tahadi Private University in Tripoli (private university) 2008.
•  Preparing the curriculum for the subject of hospital infection (Nosocomial Infection) in the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at the College of Medical Technology, University of Tripoli 2015- 2016.
•  Member of the committee to develop curricula for the new Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences/Faculty of Medical Technology/University of Tripoli after the old Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences merged with the Department of Pathology which was cancelled 2014-2015.

Previous jobs (practical and research part):

• Medical laboratory specialist at Al-Jalaa Children's Hospital in Tripoli 1984-1985.
• Medical laboratory specialist at Al-Zahf Al-Akhdar Clinic in Tripoli 1998-2002.
• Collaborating microbiology consultant at the National Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Tripoli 2000-2005.
• Collaborating microbiology consultant at the New Correctional and Rehabilitation Institution Clinic (New Prison) in Tripoli 2006-2007.

Scientific articles in Libyan environmental journals:

• - Al-Taher Ibrahim Al-Thabet. (2006). Medical waste in Libyan dialysis centers. An article published in the Environment Magazine issued by the General Environment Authority in Libya, Issues 4, 25 and 26, 2006.
• - Al-Taher Ibrahim Al-Thabet. (2004). Sperm and deformities. An article published in the Environment Magazine, General Environment Authority in Libya, Issue 22, 2004.
• - Al-Taher Ibrahim Al-Thabet. (2002). Medical analysis laboratories: their danger to workers and public health. An article published in the Environment Magazine, General Environment Authority in Libya, Issue 14, 2002.
• - Al-Taher Ibrahim Al-Thabet (2001). The dangers of mishandling medical waste: A case study of a hospital in Tripoli. A study published in the Environment Magazine, General Environment Authority in Libya, Issue 7, 2001.