Damascus, SANA-Acting Minister of Health Dr. Maher al-Sharaa discussed with Ali Elbereir, Senior Program Coordinator and Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iraq, the possibilities and means of cooperation in the field of combating drugs and addiction.
During the meeting held on Monday at the Ministry’s building, Dr. al-Sharaa highlighted the Ministry’s plan to improve the deteriorating health sector, noting the importance of partnerships with relevant entities to meet citizens’ healthcare needs and help achieve sustainable development goals.
Al-Sharaa pointed out that the Ministry’s Primary Healthcare Directorate includes a department whose job is to manage and combat addiction, and to identify its dangers and methods of prevention and awareness. He noted that drug control is based on a strategy of combating supply and reducing demand through awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation.
In turn, Elbereir affirmed the UNODC’s keenness to communicate with the Syrian authorities to create a joint working relationship, understand their interests, and determine their priorities in order to contribute supporting them, by benefiting from the office’s programs related to the health sector.
He pointed out to the possibility of cooperation to develop national strategies with Syria to protect against and combat drug abuse, treat and prevent addiction, and deal with drug-borne diseases, stressing the need to develop the state’s capabilities in this field and assist it in addressing with health issues related to drug abuse.
Reem Abdulhameed / Manar Salameh
