Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- President Bashar al-Assad received Sunday Dr. Hanan belkhi, The world Health Orgaznation Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Talks dealt with a number of issues related to WHO’ work in Syria, and ways to advance it to strategic levels based on an accurate assessment of the health sector’s reality and needs.
President al-Assad stressed that the fruitful cooperation in these circumstances with the WHO should be based on supporting the health sector in Syria, not only from the principle of helping to restore the shortage of equipment and medicines, but also in developing an organizational road map, that starting with policies and up to organized work programs that include requirements and procedures that contribute to helping health cadres keep up to date medical developments and providing them with expertise.
During the meeting, Dr. Balkhi provided an explanation of the organization’s plans within the initiatives that are based on building cadres and capabilities in the Middle East region,stressing the organization’s permanent support and its continuous endeavor to reduce risks to public health, and enhance the health system in the region through intensifying coordination and mobilizing resources.
Earlier, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, received WHO’s Regional Director and the accompanying delegation.
Mikdad underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between Syria and the organization, especially in light of the circumstances imposed by the unilateral coercive Western measures that resulting in preventing the Syrians from enjoying in health in addition to shortage in medicines and necessary medical devices.
The minister stressed the importance of continuing of the WHO to exert efforts to confront all forms of politicization in the health sector because this sector is a priority for humanitarian action.
For her part, Dr. Balkhi expressed her appreciation for the good cooperation between the Syrian government and its institutions with the World Health Organization, stressing the organization’s desire to strengthen cooperation with the Syrian government in order to achieve the interest of the Syrian people in facing health challenges.
Fedaa al-Rahai
