Search

Fuel shortage jeopardizes health system in Lebanon, warns WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said fuel shortages in Lebanon are causing most hospitals to operate at only 50% capacity.

“Basic and life-saving medicines are in short supply, with restrictions in foreign currency severely limiting importation of medicines and medical goods,” WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al Mandhari, said in a joint statement on Lebanon after concluding a two-day visit to Beirut.

“We have just concluded a two-day visit to Beirut, Lebanon to reiterate our commitment to the people of Lebanon and express our solidarity and continued support,” Ghebreyesus and Al Mandhari said according to the joint statement.

“Since the Beirut port blast last year, the country and its people have slipped even further into despair. The current economic crisis has increased poverty across the country, and all sectors including health, are at risk of collapse,” they added.

“Fuel shortages are causing most hospitals to operate at only 50% capacity. Just today, we were told that two open heart surgeries were cancelled because of limited fuel at the facility where they were planned to take place. Basic and life-saving medicines are in short supply, with restrictions in foreign currency severely limiting importation of medicines and medical goods,” the WHO officials explained.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Recent Posts

Popular Post

Pages