The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Enhancing healthcare services across Lebanon
In partnership with the government of Japan, UNOPS is helping strengthen public healthcare services as the country grapples with electricity shortages and COVID-19.
Lebanon’s ongoing financial and energy crisis has severely impacted access to essential public services, including healthcare.
To help overcome this, UNOPS is supporting the Ministry of Public Health to provide sustainable energy solutions to two government hospitals with funding from the government of Japan. The newly installed solar photovoltaic systems will also help alleviate the burden of high energy costs and are expected to generate a combined savings of around $125,000 per year.
“Japan is committed to the sustainability of the public health sector during these challenging times through helping medical institutions ensure uninterrupted provision of healthcare services,” said H.E. Mr. Takeshi Okubo, the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon.
“The prolonged energy crisis has indeed brought about a major change in public awareness, and Japan hopes that this will be seen as an opportunity for the promotion of renewable energy across the country,” added Ambassador Okubo.
To further enhance health services, essential medical equipment and supplies were provided to 16 government hospitals across the country.
At a recent handover ceremony, the partners also announced the launch of a new project that will help the Ministry of Public Health continue to strengthen its capacity to manage and respond to the country’s energy crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This important project combines developmental and humanitarian aspects. It supports the sustainability of the facilities and enables them to continue the provision of services. The generated savings will enable the hospitals to redirect the funds to support staff, purchase medicines and supplies, which will ease the burden on the patients.
The new project will support the government to provide essential and quality health services through the urgent provision of essential medical equipment and sustainable energy supplies to critical health facilities.
“With generous funding from the government of Japan and partnering with the Ministry of Public Health, UNOPS has contributed to Lebanon’s critical health facilities and provided tangible benefits to the people by enhancing access to lifesaving healthcare services,'' said Muhammad Usman Akram, Director of UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Amman.
“I deeply appreciate the strong relationship between the government of Japan and UNOPS at the global level and I am pleased to see it grow in Lebanon,” added Mr. Akram.
