The Meeting for the Assessment of the National Vaccine Programme, held at Nabeh El Fouar Restaurant located in El Fouar in Rahbeh, was sponsored by the Minister of Public Health.

H. E. Mr. Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh, represented by the Director of Health Prevention at the Ministry, Dr.Assaad Khoury, in coordination with Issam Fares Office and the Medical Services in the Qaza of Akkar. Attended the meeting, in addition to Dr. Khoury, the Director of Issam Fares Office in Halba, Mr. Nasser Bitar, representing President Issam Fares, the Director of the National Immunization Programme, Dr. Randa Hamadeh and, a number of directors of hospitals, dispensaries, and public and private health centers, as well as physicians and people working in the health field and having participated in the vaccination campaign.

Dr. Randa Hamadeh, who addressed the audience on behalf of H.E. Mr. Khalifeh, stated that the Ministry of Public Health was forced to shut down a health center in Akkar for it failed to provide the minimum required of health services. She also stated that the Ministry has prepared two contracts aimed at establishing two health care centers in Bebnine and Mechmeh in Akkar.

Dr. Hamadeh explained that the Ministry has decided to cease large and comprehensive vaccination campaigns so as to work on raising the citizens’ awareness on the importance of vaccination campaigns conducted by the different sectors. In this context, Hamadeh stated that the Lebanese Army Medical Services were, for instance, taking care of the vaccination of the soldiers’ children and expressed her gratitude to the Lebanese Army for its efficient contribution to the vaccination campaign through its Medical Services. 

The Director of Issam Fares Office, Mr. Nasser Bitar, took the floor afterwards and declared that Akkar is always ready to cooperate as a faithful partner seeking to fulfill its social and national commitments. He, hence, called upon the concerned stakeholders to consolidate their faith in this partnership so as to revitalize the country by securing balanced growth to all its components.
At the end, scenes related to the vaccination campaign were broadcasted on a large screen followed by a discussion during which Minister Khalifeh was requested to enhance the Government Hospital’s capacity. The meeting ended by a lunch offered in honor of the participants.