regressed, leading to the deterioration of numerous health metrics. Triggered by poverty, transnational movements, deteriorating environmental conditions and infrastructural decay, there has been a notable shift in the patterns of infectious diseases in Lebanon. Alarmingly, pathogens such as cholera, once eradicated from the country, resurfaced in 2022, instigating a significant outbreak. This re-emergence underscores the dire need for a holistic strategy. Such a strategy would encompass the strengthening of health systems and disease surveillance, and would also encompass initiatives aimed at tackling the root causes, such as poverty alleviation, sustainable infrastructure development (especially in water and sanitation) and measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Lebanon’s rapid containment of the cholera outbreak was a testament to a multi-pronged approach, partnership, coordination and multisectoral collaboration. IMMENSE PRESSURE ON HEALTH CARE Concurrently, Lebanon’s energy crisis has exerted immense pressure on all sectors, including health care. Amid challenges such as acute electricity shortages and soaring fuel costs, the operationality and very existence of healthcare facilities are at stake. Consequently, the urgency for sustainable and climate-adaptive healthcare reforms has escalated. It is heartening to note significant progress in integrating renewable energy into public hospitals and primary healthcare centres, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Lebanese government, international collaborators, funding agencies and local communities. The recent launch of the Sustainable Energy Strategy for the Healthcare Sector by the Ministry of Public Health epitomises a commitment to a transformative shift towards green energy utilisation and production. The strategy promotes the adoption of solar panels, wind turbines and energy-saving technologies, ensuring a consistent, eco-friendly energy source for healthcare institutions. Using renewable energy, healthcare facilities can uphold critical services, diminish their environmental impact and reinforce climate change mitigation
FIRASS ABIAD Firass Abiad has been Lebanon’s minister of public health since 2021. A surgeon, he previously worked at the American University of Beirut Medical Center since 2010 and was appointed chair of the board of directors at Rafic Hariri University Hospital in 2015. During his tenure at RHUH, he led the efforts to transform the hospital into a leading tertiary hospital that spearheaded Lebanon’s response to Covid-19. X-TWITTER @firassabiad www.moph.gov.lb/en/
endeavours. Successful strategy implementation can potentially lead to a 15%–30% reduction in electricity consumption by public hospitals and a 50% cut in thermal energy demands. Achieving these targets will streamline operating costs, allowing funds to be redirected to more pressing healthcare needs. Furthermore, Lebanon’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 hinges on the amplification of its renewable energy usage. Embracing telehealth offers an eco-friendly solution, reducing carbon footprints, especially in densely populated regions like Beirut. By curtailing unnecessary commutes to healthcare institutions, telehealth contributes to enhanced air quality and reduced traffic congestion. This approach also lessens medical waste production, addressing another challenge faced by the health sector. Additionally, given the alarming rate of healthcare professionals departing
Lebanon, telehealth serves as a bridge for global collaboration and knowledge exchange. A NEW NATIONAL HEALTH STRATEGY The Ministry of Public Health’s comprehensive five-year National Health Strategy: Vision 2030 delineates the collective vision to address immediate and long-term health priorities, including those stemming from climate change and environmental degradation. Five pivotal components form the backbone of this strategy: governance, health promotion and disease prevention, health security, universal health coverage, and health system resilience. A prime objective is to counteract climate change impacts on the healthcare sector by forging sustainable strategies and reforms in collaboration with both local and international partners. In its commitment to universal health coverage, the Sustainable Development Goals and the directives from successive United Nations climate change conferences, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health emphasises the convergence of public health and climate. Prioritising renewable energy and climate resilience remains integral to these commitments. The end goal? Carving a healthier, sustainable future for the Lebanese people. ▪
of Lebanese households endure multidimensional poverty 80 %
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Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
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