Beirut, Lebanon. On the occasion of the “World Health Day 2022,” the World Health Organization (WHO) Lebanon launched the National Health and Environment Strategy Framework 2021-26. The development of the strategy was led by Dr. Mey Jurdi, Professor at the Environmental Health Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences through a consultative participatory process, with all relevant stakeholders, and builds on the EMR Health and Environment Strategy 2014-19.
The National Health and Environment Strategy 2021-26 focuses on nine priorities identified for the Arab Region (water, sanitation, and health; air pollution and health; food safety and health; chemical safety and health; waste management and environmental health services in the health sector; environmental health emergency management; climate change and health; sustainable development and health; and occupational health and safety.) The strategy indicated the needed strategic responses; strategic activities and sub activities; collaboration between governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders; the timeframe for implementation and the indicators to be reported to WHO by 2025 and 2030.
Dr. Jurdi presented the strategy on April 7, 2022 at a press conference under the patronage of the Minister of Public Health and the participation of the Minister of Environment. She emphasized on the importance of forming a National Committee of Major Stakeholders, led by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the Ministry of Environmental Health (MoE), to oversee/follow up on implementing the Proposed National Health and Environment Strategic Framework of Action 2021-2026.
Professor Jurdi concluded by thanking all the stakeholders (governmental bodies, United Nations agencies, academic professionals, and non-governmental organization) for providing valuable feedback on the various priority areas.