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Fuel shortage jeopardizes health system in Lebanon, warns WHO, 1st, final add

According to the statement, a brain drain is occurring at alarming speed. Almost 40% of skilled medical doctors and almost 30% of registered nurses have already left the country either permanently or temporarily. Mental health needs are greater than ever before, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to create additional challenges for both the health sector and communities alike.

“The challenges before us are immense and threaten the many significant health gains that Lebanon had made over the last decades. But we can use this crisis as an opportunity to build a better health care system in Lebanon, and work with national authorities, partners, and the international community for positive health sector reform,” Ghebreyesus and Al Mandhari said.

They added: “We cannot afford to leave behind those most vulnerable and in need. Access to essential and life-saving health services must be preserved at all costs – including for migrants and persons with disabilities.”

“Throughout our visit, we saw firsthand the spirit of resilience and determination that the Lebanese people are renowned for. Health care workers that have remained in the country are saving lives with the few resources they have at their disposal. The Lebanese people are eager to rebuild their country, and we are with them every step of the way,” they reiterated.

At WHO, Ghebreyesus and Al Mandhari added: “we have championed the importance of building and maintaining partnerships among the diverse group of players involved in global health country governments, donors, the private sector, civil society and academics to overcome barriers to achieving universal health coverage.”

“We remain committed to continuing our immediate, lifesaving work in Lebanon, while also planning for longer-term strategies for health. And we count on the support of all sectors and all stakeholders to build on the support they have provided so far, so that together, we can take Lebanon from its current crisis to a future where all people can enjoy health as a basic right,” Ghebreyesus and Al Mandhari concluded.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

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