World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
WHO Country Office in Lebanon



 

Assessment and Planning Mission of the Core Capacities Needed for the Implementation of International Health Regulations 2005 in Lebanon

16-20 March 2009

Beirut, Lebanon

As part of its technical support for the implementation of the IHR, which came into effect in July 2007, WHO regional
office organized a core capacity assessment mission, from March 16 to march 20. The mission team was composed 
of the following:

1- WHO regional office:

-          director of Communicable Diseases at WHO regional office, Dr J.Mahjour

-          Focal point for IHR at WHO regional office, Dr J. Jabbour

-          Expert from the Lyon  Bureau of WHO, Dr L.Wang

-          Regional expert on IHR, Dr P.Abihanna

 2- WHO Country office:

-  WHO representative, Dr H.Abouzaid

- National professional officer , Dr A. Rady

- Programme officer, DR Z. Mansour

3- MOPH team:

-National focal point for IHR, Dr W. Ammar

-National core team for IHR: Dr N. Salam, Dr N Ghosn, Dr A. Berry, Mrs S. Chatila

 

The mission team met with the main stakeholders  in health, including the Minister of public health, Dr J,.. Kahlifeh,
the president of the syndicate of Private Hospitals, Mr S. Haroun, the president of the Municipality of Beirut,
Mr A. Ariss and his team the Director General of Ministry of agriculture Mr A. Chami, The president of syndicate
of laboratories Dr A. Mastori. In addition, field visits for direct observations were conducted incliuding slected
hospitals and labs, as well as qada  doctors offices and Points of Entry to the country ( Beirut airport, Beirut
posrt, Tripoli Port, Masnaa land crossing)

With the high political commitment expressed by the Government of Lebanon, especially the Ministry of Health (MOH),
preparation for the implementation of the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR 2005 or Regulations) as
well as advocacy for and initiation of IHR activities among the various administrative levels of MOH and other
concerned ministries and institutions need to be further promoted under the leadership of the national focal
point and with the support of WHO - in particular:

 

  1. Production of the essential guidelines, protocols and SOPs as required by IHR 2005;
  2. Multi-sectoral coordination for IHR implementation at all levels;
  3. Essential recognition of the capacities at points of entry;
  4. Progress in building capacities for surveillance and response as per annex 1 of the regulations, specifically at the
    Governorate level;
  5. Revision and modification of the existing laws, provisions and other legal documents to be in line with IHR 2005.