Syria, WHO Discuss Health Cooperation

DAMASCUS, (ST) – The Syrian government continues to provide its medical and health care services to all Syrian citizens without any distinction, and it is keen to cooperate with all international organizations to ensure the requirements of the health sector under the current circumstances in the country, asserted Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi.

The Premier’s remarks were made on Wednesday during his meeting with Director of the Health programs at the World Health Organization’s East Mediterranean Regional Office Samir bin Yahmad and the Resident Representative of the WHO in Syria Elizabeth Huff.

Al-Halqi affirmed the importance of reactivating cooperation between the Health Ministry and the WHO Office to enhance medical support to Syria after the armed terrorist groups had targeted the health sector and the West had imposed unjustified economic sanctions on Syria.

“The assistance provided by the organization doesn’t suit the size of the damage caused to the health sector as a result of the ongoing events, al-Halqi said, urging more support by the WHO to meet the basic health needs.

For his part, Bin Yehmad expressed the organization’s desire to boost health cooperation with the Syrian government which spares no effort to provide the health sector with the services needed to alleviate the repercussions of the crisis.

The issue of meeting the increasing need of the heath sector in Syria was the topic of another meeting between Health Minister Sa’d al-Nayef and Mr. Bin Yahmad.

The minister affirmed the important role that can be played by the international organizations to lift the West’s unjust economic and bank siege which mainly affected the life and health of the Syrian citizens.

Al-Nayef reviewed the needs of the health sector under the current circumstances, including medicines of chronic children diseases, cancer and anesthetization, in addition to preventive medicines, vaccines and child medical milk. The needs also include ambulances, particularly after more than 400 ambulances have become out of service.

Bin Yahmad, for his part, told journalists following the meeting that the health need in Syria is “so big now”. He pointed out that before the crisis Syria had achieved high heath indicators described as the highest in the region.

“Cooperation aims at providing the minimum level of health services to help reaching the level of services that was rendered in the country two years and a half ago,” Bin Yahmad added.

H. Mustafa