NNA - 11 October 2024, Beirut - As the situation on the ground intensifies, Lebanon’s healthcare system faces unprecedented pressure with a significant surge in casualties and injuries. To support the country's emergency response, the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) has provided a vital shipment of 40 Trauma Emergency Surgical Kits (TESKS), enough to do 4000 trauma surgeries. The shipment, immediately transported to the Ministry of Public Health warehouses, 13 TESKs has been distributed to 6 large referral hospitals across the country. WHO is coordinating with the MOPH PHEOC supplies focal point to ensure the distribution of all these TESKs.
This crucial delivery aims to alleviate the strain on hospitals that are operating at full capacity and receiving a large number of casualties with trauma injuries daily. “These supplies are extremely important because those hospitals have been working at full capacity and anything that improves their readiness means that they can carry out a better response and improve access to necessary and much needed healthcare. this also sends a very important signal of solidarity from the international community to Lebanon in these difficult times,” stated Dr Firass Abiad, Lebanese Minister of Public Health.
In collaboration with WHO, the 30-tonne shipment reflects an ongoing commitment to not only respond to the current crisis but also ensure the preparedness of Lebanon's healthcare system in anticipation of further escalations. “Lebanon’s Health system has been in crisis for years, but what we have seen in the last 4 weeks is unprecedented. frontline and referral Hospitals are receiving 300 patients per day, overwhelming staff and depleting supplies. With support from ECHO, WHO has procured these supplies to equip healthcare workforce and hospitals with the tools they need to manage the growing number of injured patients,” state Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, acting WHO representative in Lebanon. This support complements an ongoing project funded by ECHO that aims to enhance the continuum of care for vulnerable populations by increasing access to hospitalization for patients in need of lifesaving and limb-saving treatments and trauma care in conflict. This initiative strengthens the healthcare system’s ability to respond to emergencies. Additionally, it supports health sector coordination, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders at all levels to ensure that humanitarian needs are met efficiently and comprehensively.
------ United Nations Information Center - Beirut [Press Release]
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