The Ministry of Public Health announces the receipt of ventilators and anticipates more from the World Health Organization.
The National News Agency reported that the media office of Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hasan announced in a statement that the ministry continues its efforts to face the pressure the country is under due to the coronavirus pandemic, pointing to all the adverse economic, financial, and living conditions. The statement noted that the ministry is working on multiple levels to mitigate the repercussions of the health crisis.
The statement clarified that the ministry received 18 complete ICU ventilators early this morning to be used in the intensive care units for critically ill patients, noting that this forms the last batch from a series of purchases made by the ministry in March from a World Bank loan, with delays in arrival due to issues with financial transfers to the importer.
Furthermore, the statement indicated that the distribution of the devices has begun under the supervision of caretaker Prime Minister Dr. Hassan Diab and Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hasan, according to necessity.
It revealed that the received batch includes High Flow Nasal Cannula Devices, which are being distributed as donations or loans to both private and government hospitals experiencing significant pressure and showing serious cooperation for the benefit of COVID-19 patients. Specifically, 48 devices have been allocated to 25 private hospitals, and 42 devices to 13 government hospitals in various governorates.
The statement highlighted that the ministry is expecting an additional batch of intensive care beds and ventilators purchased from the World Health Organization to arrive soon, which will be distributed using the same methodology to government and private hospitals.
Regarding field hospitals provided by Qatar, the statement mentioned that Speaker of the House Nabih Berri requested yesterday that the Qatari field hospital be transferred from Tyre to Rafik Hariri Governmental University Hospital or the Sports City, with the aim of having Balamand University operate the hospital in cooperation with the relevant syndicates, medical schools, university hospitals, and the Red Cross, under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Public Health and its specialized teams.
The statement also noted that work is ongoing in Bakkar and Tripoli to install the two Qatari field hospitals soon and transfer the existing equipment from the Sports City to them.
On the subject of vaccines, the Ministry of Health reassured that communications are ongoing at all levels to secure the vaccine from several official and private sources in cooperation with all involved parties, especially after the General Assembly of the Parliament approved the law regulating the emergency use of medical products to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, the Minister of Public Health urged citizens to adhere to the highest levels of discipline during this dangerous phase of widespread pandemic transmission.
