| The Daily Star |
TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Two of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in north Lebanon are getting much-needed help to implement a UNDP health-care plan to boost vaccinations for the residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
The ART GOLD program, which is funded by the governments of Spain and Monaco, held a graduation ceremony Thursday for 30 female health-service providers, who will join hospitals and medical clinics in the neighborhoods.
ART GOLD is a local socio-economic development program administered by the UNDP.
Speaking during a ceremony at Rashid Karami Cultural Center in Tripoli, the president of the Cooperation, Development and Health Organization, Beshara Eid, cited an ART GOLD study showing that 57.9 percent of the population of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen has not received vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella.
“The studies have also shown us that health clinics are the only way to provide 75.5 percent of the population with primary health services,” said Eid, adding that both the Health and Social Affairs ministries should provide the medical centers with modern instruments and qualified doctors.
Addressing the graduates of the training program, Eid urged the health service providers to engage in the area’s development projects.
“It is the most efficient way to make change in the neighborhood, especially in times of political bickering between different sects,” Eid added.
The impoverished Tripoli neighborhoods recently saw a series of sectarian clashes, which pitted the Sunni residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh against their Alawite neighbors in Jabal Mohsen.
Tripoli’s mayor, Nader Ghazal, said poverty has played a major role in the deterioration of health standards in the two neighborhoods.
“There is no doubt that economic deprivation was the reason behind the deteriorating health and social standards and also the reason for school drop-outs,” said Ghazal, who also stressed that every development initiative in the area contributes to protecting people’s lives.
According to Raghed Assi, the director of the UNDP program in Lebanon, the training of the health service providers is part of a strategic project of ART GOLD, whose aim is to improve primary health services throughout north Lebanon, Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
“As a result of the program, 150,000 people have so far received primary health care services in these regions,” said Assi.
According to Assi, the studies uncovered major finding about the neighborhoods and can be the basis for any future development projects in the area.
Assi also said that the partnership between ART GOLD and the Municipality of Tripoli must continue to work toward achieving true socio-economic development in Tripoli.
Speaking on behalf of Spain’s ambassador to Beirut, Juan Carlos Gafo, Abdullah Mohieddine said women have an important role to play in the social development. “We are aware of the difficult and deteriorating situation in the neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh but we will work together to put an end to the poverty there,” he added.
The ART GOLD program, which is funded by the governments of Spain and Monaco, held a graduation ceremony Thursday for 30 female health-service providers, who will join hospitals and medical clinics in the neighborhoods.
ART GOLD is a local socio-economic development program administered by the UNDP.
Speaking during a ceremony at Rashid Karami Cultural Center in Tripoli, the president of the Cooperation, Development and Health Organization, Beshara Eid, cited an ART GOLD study showing that 57.9 percent of the population of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen has not received vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella.
“The studies have also shown us that health clinics are the only way to provide 75.5 percent of the population with primary health services,” said Eid, adding that both the Health and Social Affairs ministries should provide the medical centers with modern instruments and qualified doctors.
Addressing the graduates of the training program, Eid urged the health service providers to engage in the area’s development projects.
“It is the most efficient way to make change in the neighborhood, especially in times of political bickering between different sects,” Eid added.
The impoverished Tripoli neighborhoods recently saw a series of sectarian clashes, which pitted the Sunni residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh against their Alawite neighbors in Jabal Mohsen.
Tripoli’s mayor, Nader Ghazal, said poverty has played a major role in the deterioration of health standards in the two neighborhoods.
“There is no doubt that economic deprivation was the reason behind the deteriorating health and social standards and also the reason for school drop-outs,” said Ghazal, who also stressed that every development initiative in the area contributes to protecting people’s lives.
According to Raghed Assi, the director of the UNDP program in Lebanon, the training of the health service providers is part of a strategic project of ART GOLD, whose aim is to improve primary health services throughout north Lebanon, Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
“As a result of the program, 150,000 people have so far received primary health care services in these regions,” said Assi.
According to Assi, the studies uncovered major finding about the neighborhoods and can be the basis for any future development projects in the area.
Assi also said that the partnership between ART GOLD and the Municipality of Tripoli must continue to work toward achieving true socio-economic development in Tripoli.
Speaking on behalf of Spain’s ambassador to Beirut, Juan Carlos Gafo, Abdullah Mohieddine said women have an important role to play in the social development. “We are aware of the difficult and deteriorating situation in the neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh but we will work together to put an end to the poverty there,” he added.
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