GENEVA: The WorldHealth Organization (WHO) yesterday commended Kuwait's donation for cancerpatients in Syria, which gave a silver lining to patients at a time when publichealth services were disrupted in Syria. In a statement, the organizationexpressed its gratitude to Kuwait for its contribution of $1 million for cancercare in Syria, which immediately influenced health situations of vulnerablefamilies in Syria.
Kuwait'sPermanent Representative to the UN and International Organizations AmbassadorJamal Al-Ghunaim said that Kuwait is proactive in funding programs of WHO tovaccinate Syrian children against polio, as well as programs in Yemen, Iraq,Afghanistan and others for health care. Ghunaim said that the upcoming visit ofWHO's Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus will open new horizons forcooperation between Kuwait and international organizations of health care.
WHO assessment ofcancer care services in eight hospitals in various Syrian governorates in 2016revealed a sharp decrease of equipment, staff and cancer care. With Kuwait'sdonation, WHO has obtained cancer medications and supplies distributed toSyria's main hospitals. "WHO has worked with the oncology units in Syria'spublic referral hospitals to develop a list of high-value, specific cancermedicines," WHO Representative in Syria Elizabeth Hoff said.
"Throughthis carefully tailored approach and close collaboration with hospital staff,WHO has been able to procure enough medicines to cover 40,000 treatment coursesand help fill critical gaps in cancer care," she explained. - KUNA