Yazigi at World Health Assembly: Syrian state provides healthcare despite economic sanctions

Geneva, SANA – The activities of the 72nd World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), continued on Tuesday, with the participation of a Syrian delegation headed by Health Minister Dr. Nizar Yazigi.

In a speech at the Assembly, Yazigi reviewed the efforts exerted by the Syrian state to provide healthcare and medical services to citizens across the country despite all challenges and the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people.

He said that the Ministry set a number of priorities in light of the terrorist war on Syria, mainly continuing to provide free healthcare, dealing with contagious diseases, providing prosthetics, rehabilitating injured persons, providing medicine for people with terminal diseases and cancer for free, and carrying out vaccination campaigns.

The Minister said that all possible resources have been allocated to rehabilitate health establishments damaged by terrorism, noting that pharmaceutical production has made strides in covering the needs of the local market, covering 90% of it through 89 factories.

He pointed out to the silence of some sides and organizations over the suffering of thousands of displaced Syrians who are detained against their will at al-Rukban camp by US occupation forces and their terrorist mercenaries, asserting that Syria is working to ensure a decent life for citizens who return from the camp.

Yazigi added that the Syrian government delivers aid to al-Houl camp east of Hasaka which shelters people who fled the shelling of the US-led coalition on al-Baghouz area in Deir Ezzor countryside.

The Minister reiterated the demands for building health establishments in the occupied Syrian Golan as the Israeli occupation intentionally deprives locals from such establishments to force them to leave, pointing out to the suffering of Syrian captives in Israeli jails which lack the minimum standards of hygiene and healthcare.

He reiterated the calls for the WHO to work towards lifting the unjust embargo on Syria which affects Syrians’ health.

The activities of the 72nd World Health Assembly kicked off on Monday with the participation of 194 countries, and will continue until May 28th.

Hazem Sabbagh

Check Also

31,819 martyrs, 73,934 injured since the occupation began its aggression on Gaza Strip

Occupied Jerusalem, SANA- Palestinian Health Ministry announced that the Israeli occupation committed 9 massacres in …