The ceremony was attended by Dr. Josette Najjar, Middle East and North Africa regional manager at the Mérieux Foundation, Dr. Randa Hamadeh, director of the Primary Health Centers and Social Health Department at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Yasser Ammar, director of the hospital, the head of the Rachaya primary health center, Wael Abou Faour, member of the Lebanese parliament, and several local representatives.
This new partnership is an extension of the Mérieux Foundation’s projects dedicated to global health. With financial support from the Department of International Cooperation (DCI) of the Principality of Monaco, the Mérieux Foundation will use its expertise to help extend the infrastructure and services of the Rachaya primary health center. Speakers at the meeting underlined the center’s essential role, providing services to more than 1,800 patients per month.
The areas for further development identified for the project include maternal and child health, mental health, early detection of breast cancer, and the creation of specialized services such as speech therapy.
This initiative confirms the Mérieux Foundation’s commitment to supporting local efforts on a long-term basis, through a human-centered, integrated approach focused on the needs of populations, to strengthen primary healthcare in line with the objectives of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s 2030 Vision. It will draw on its successful experience at the Douris primary health center, built by the Mérieux Foundation and managed by the Amel International association, with the support of the DCI.