Media Release
12 July 2007
ANF seeks help for accused nurses and doctor in Libya
The Australian Nursing Federation is appealing to the Australian government for help following Libya’s Supreme Court decision to uphold the death sentence against five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor accused of deliberately infecting children with HIV.
ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe will ask the Australian government to appeal to the Libyan government to release the nurses and doctor who have been imprisoned for eight years, despite scientific evidence that discredits the case against them.
“The ANF is shocked and saddened by the decision of the Libyan Supreme Court,” Ms Iliffe said. “The scientific evidence clearly indicates the children were infected well before these particular health workers arrived in the country.”
“Rather than attributing blame to innocent people the Libyan government should focus on implementing stringent practices in infection control in hospitals and ensure the children and their families receive ongoing medical and social care.”
Ms Iliffe said in addition to requesting assistance from the Australian Government the ANF will lobby the Libyan People’s Bureau Charge d’Affaires in Canberra on the nurses’ behalf.
The Supreme Court decision will be reviewed by the Libyan Supreme Judicial Council on 16 July 2007.
The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in
Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322