Day: April 5, 2023

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Wednesday received at his Yarzeh office, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr. Yasser Alawi, and Egyptian Military Attaché, Brigadier General Ahmed Mohammed Hosni Ali Abdul Maqsoud. Maj. Gen. Aoun later received Belgian Ambassador to Lebanon, Koen Vervaeke. The army chief also received Head of Jezzine Municipalities’ Union, Khalil Harfoush, who raised with him the district’s needs and conditions.

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

RAS AL KHAIMAH, 4th April, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Tuesday received Ramadan well-wishers at Al Dhiyafa Majlis in Khozam area, here on the thirteen day of the holy month. He received the greetings of sheikhs, state officials and heads of local government departments as well as dignitaries and Emiratis, who prayed to Allah Almighty to revisit the fasting month with more goodness, progress, security, safety and prosperity for the UAE and its people. The reception was attended by several top officials of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Hatem Mohamed

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

The Minister of Public Health Dr. Firass Abiad signed today a Memorandum Of Agreement with the Task Force for Global Health represented by PIVI Director Dr. Joseph Bresee in the presence of the WHO team represented by Team Lead Dr. Alissar Rady and the presence of WHO-EMRO representative Dr. Rania Attia . The MOU marks the start of Lebanon’s eligibility to become a PIVI (Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction) partner country. It has become one of 21 countries that are benefitting from PIVI eligibility and support. ‘After the COVID pandemic, we all learned the importance of being prepared with systems in place, with immunity or vaccines readily available, and so on. But unfortunately, because of the situation in Lebanon and the resourceful environment, the level of preparedness in Lebanon is something we could not have done on our own. That is why this support at this very crucial time is even more and we are very appreciative of the support,’ said Dr Firass Abiad. This support will allow for the availability of influenza vaccines ahead of the flu season every year for the next five years. The essence of the partnership is to provide technical support to the MOPH through a workplan to improve vaccine availability and acceptability as well as to decrease hesitancy and support and generate other information and evidence that will help integrate and sustain the availability of influenza vaccines. WHO is also supporting generating evidence to estimate the burden of influenza in Lebanon and the relative importance of the introduction of this vaccine at the national level. ‘PIVI, based at the Task Force for Global Health, together with our partners at CDC are committed to a long-term relationship with Lebanon to create a sustainable and impactful annual influenza vaccination program that will also be a critical tool for pandemic response. We are very excited about this collaboration’, stated Dr. Joseph Bresee. This partnership is going to be sustained and renewed for the next 3 to 5 years. The memorandum highlights the fact that this is a long-term partnership with the Ministry. PIVI is donating the vaccines and providing technical support. WHO’s role is to provide technical support and expertise in terms of all the technical areas that will come with the agreement which will be funded by PIVI under Task Force for Global Health through WHO-EMRO. The formal partnership comes after intensive discussions involving the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) committee, with the chair National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and other relevant immunization-related parties at the national level. ‘This MOU and the support of the Task Force for Global Health and CDC to Lebanon is an important opportunity to strengthen Lebanon capacity to monitor Influenza and foster preparedness to future pandemics. WHO support that started several years ago will continue to further expand national capacity for integration of Influenza vaccine at the level of PHC, and foster preparedness, prevention and response in Lebanon, within the overall National Health sector strategy,’ said Dr Alissar Rady. This important partnership falls under WHO’s objective of working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with global health entities to ensure regular access to vaccines and other health-related care to citizens.

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

Syria affirmed that European Union Council and Parliament agreement to adopt so-called ‘anti-coercion tool’ in the field of trade revealed the flagrant double standards adopted by this Union, according to a statement by Foreign and Expatrietes Ministry on Wednesday. ‘Syria is astonished of such an aggreement adopted by the Union, as the EU punishes countries it alleges that they impose coercive measures on other countries, while the Union itself imposes illegal coercive measures on numerous developing countries, including Syria.’ The Ministry said . These measures caused the suffering of millions of civilians and obstructed the efforts of the targeted countries to meet the needs of their people and achieve the goals of sustainable development, well-being and prosperity’ the Ministry added. The statement read that this stance unequivocally reveals the blatant double standards adopted by the European Union. Syria calls on European Union to adopt a policy that is more balanced and consistent with the principles of international law, UN resolutions and human rights instruments, along with the immediate, complete and unconditional lifting of illegal unilateral coercive measures and the cessation of collective punishment policies against the peoples of the targeted countries, the Ministry concluded.

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon