18 December 2018 - The European Union has renewed its commitment to strengthen the Lebanese health care system and secure access to chronic medications, vaccines and essential medical commodities to the most vulnerable population in Lebanon. Through an additional contribution of 19 million Euro from the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, UNICEF and WHO will be able to support to people in need living in Lebanon by ensuring provision of primary healthcare services and strengthening the health system.
 
The additional funding was announced today during a joint press conference headed by the Minister of Public Health, Ghassan Hasbani, EU Ambassador Christina Lassen, WHO representative Dr. Imane Shankiti, and UNICEF Representative, Tanya Chapuisat. The donation is part of a package of support of 173 million Euro which the European Union has invested in the health sector to strengthen the system and to help meet the basic health needs of both Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees in a time of great pressure on service delivery and health infrastructure.
 
“We thank the commitment of the European Union and the support of the World Health Organization and UNICEF in strengthening the healthcare system to meet the needs of both Lebanese and Syrian refugees,” said Minister Hasbany.
 
EU Ambassador Lassen highlighted that "the projects we are launching today are part of a 173 million Euro health package that includes primary and secondary healthcare and aims at achieving quality, affordable and accessible health services for everyone in need in Lebanon".
 
“The generous support of the EU to the health system has sealed a long-standing partnership between the MOPH, WHO and UNICEF, and ensured that health services were of good quality, and that outbreaks and health risks are identified and acted upon early enough” said Imane Shankiti, WHO representative. “Reinforcing the health system capacity, along with filling critical health services with EU support ensured that no patient in need for health care was left behind”.
 
“The strong partnership we have with the EU, the ministry of Public Health and WHO has ensured that every child in Lebanon has access to quality vaccines to remain safe from outbreaks of preventable diseases,” said Tanya Chapuisat, UNICEF Representative to Lebanon. “Through EU funding we are able to save lives and strengthen systems to shape a better future for children”.