Health Minster: Syria calls on WHO to contribute to lifting the coercive measures imposed on it
Minister of Health Hassan Al-Ghabbash called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Syria to lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on it, address the reduction in humanitarian funding received, and seek to continue providing support to find integrated health strategies.
“The reality of the health sector requires everyone to search for appropriate solutions, intensify efforts and mobilize resources to find sustainable financing policies at the level of the international community” Minister Al-Ghabbash said in a speech he made on Tuesday within the work of the 77th session of the World Health Assembly held in Geneva.
Al-Ghabbash pointed out in his speech that despite the support provided by the WHO , it must be noted that the lack of resources that Syria suffers from is not the only effect on health, but also the exceptional circumstances that it has subjected to and negatively affected the economic and social situation of the population as a result of the ongoing war on it for more than thirteen years accompanied by unilateral coercive measures and procedures that are still being imposed, affecting the health sector and preventing the provision and maintenance of basic medical technology and equipment.
Regarding the unjust Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the Minister of Health pointed to the risks and regional health emergency resulting from the continuation of this aggression, which requires standing by and supporting the Palestinian people and immediately seeking to stop this aggression. He stressed the inevitability and importance of implementing the decisions of the World Health Assembly on health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and to adhere to the mandate given to the organization to provide health support to Palestinians and Syrians living under the occupation.
Minister Al-Ghobash expressed his hope that the results of the meeting would meet the many existing challenges facing the entire global health system and would draw a road map towards securing the necessary resources to cover the health priorities of countries suffering from economic crises and work to continue providing support to the health sector to address these complex challenges.
The Minister of Health thanked the WHO, headed by the Director-General, Dr. Tedros, and all the employees of the organization, pointing out the importance of the visit of the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, where she was briefed on the reality of the health sector, the challenges facing it, and the reality of hospitals.
Dr. Balkhi met with health workers and patients to touch upon the necessary needs to enhance the provision of health services.
The 77th session of the World Health Assembly began in Geneva on Tuesday with the participation of Syria and will continue until the first of next June under the title “All for Health and Health for All”.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the organization and its activities are attended by delegations from all its member states. Its agenda, prepared by the Executive Council, focuses on specific topics in the field of health.
Rawaa Ghanam