Lebanese Health Minister: Harbata Government Hospital Project, a Dream Made Reality Thanks to Support from Sisterly Kuwait

Beirut, October 31 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan al-Nasr al-Din confirmed on Saturday that the government hospital project in the town of Harbata in the Bekaa region “has become a reality after being a dream,” thanks to the support of the State of Kuwait, represented by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

This statement was made by al-Nasr al-Din during a ceremony marking the laying of the foundation stone for the Harbata government hospital, funded by a grant from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The event was attended by Kuwait’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Al-Sharji, Chairman of the Lebanese National Council for Development and Reconstruction (NCDR), Mohammad Qabani, Representative of the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, MP Ghazi Zaiter, and a large gathering of officials and dignitaries in the governorate.

Al-Nasr al-Din added that the hospital project was initiated during the previous government’s term, with follow-up by Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri and support from the NCDR, at an estimated cost of four million US dollars. He noted that the Baalbek-Hermel area is in urgent need of a rapid health response for emergency cases due to the absence of a nearby medical hospital. “Hence, the initiative and the kind humanitarian gesture from the State of Kuwait to build the hospital and address the critical needs of the residents of this area,” he said.

The Lebanese Health Minister revealed a generous grant from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to construct three hospitals in Lebanon, including the Harbata hospital, another in the town of Deir el-Qamar in the Chouf district, and a third in the Sahl Akkar area in the north of the country. He pointed out a significant shortage within the Ministry of Health in securing medical supplies for government hospitals, amid the continuous aggression by Israeli occupation forces against Lebanon.

Al-Nasr al-Din affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to a comprehensive health reform program, including drug registration and early diagnostic treatment for chronic diseases. He also mentioned his request to the Lebanese Cabinet to support and increase the Ministry’s budget to enable it to improve the quality of health services and achieve the “concept of health security” for Lebanese citizens.

For his part, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, whose speech was delivered by MP Ghazi Zaiter on his behalf, emphasized that scientific studies and evaluation institutions confirm that healthcare and its level in any country are the fundamental condition for conferring the status of progress and development on nations and peoples. Berri added, “The broader the health coverage through a system that meets citizens’ needs, the more the country ranks among advanced and developed nations, alongside advanced education, services, and infrastructure.”

He considered that the ceremony marking the laying of the foundation stone for “this health landmark in this Bekaa town” represents a step toward generalizing development projects and expanding the health network across the Baalbek-Hermel governorate, accompanied by calls to expand the educational network at all its stages.

Berri stressed that “this medical landmark was made possible through a generous grant from the friendly State of Kuwait, which stood by Lebanon in various circumstances and crises and hosted Lebanese expatriates early on, who in turn remained loyal to it.” He emphasized Lebanon’s steadfast support for Kuwait in all circumstances, particularly during the brutal Iraqi invasion, condemning it and denouncing it by all means.

Berri extended his thanks and appreciation “on behalf of all the people of the Baalbek-Hermel governorate to the State of Kuwait, its Amir, government, and people, and to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, which deserves credit for this project.”

He expressed his hope that “this hospital will be a prominent and essential landmark that meets the health needs of citizens, accompanied by further achievements and construction projects in the governorate, which has long suffered from policies of deprivation, to convey a message of hope and reassurance regarding security, permanence, and continuity in their homeland, villages, and land.”

For his part, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Al-Sharji, said in his speech on this occasion that “this vital project translates on the ground the developmental and humanitarian message of the State of Kuwait, embodied by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development through its sustained commitment over decades to supporting vital projects in brotherly Lebanon.” Al-Sharji added that “the Harbata Government Hospital project is not merely the construction of a medical center, but it establishes a fundamental pillar for health security and social stability for the residents of Harbata and its surroundings, ensuring that medical care reaches every citizen with efficiency and dignity.” He emphasized that this occasion “represents a living embodiment of the deep historical fraternal relations and rooted ties between Kuwait and Lebanon, supported by the gracious patronage of the leaderships of both brotherly countries,” stressing Kuwait’s firm and consistent stance of standing by Lebanon and supporting it under all circumstances and crises, based on the belief in a shared destiny.

He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Public Works and Transport Authority (PWA) for their fruitful coordination and cooperation with the Kuwait Fund, which culminated in the launch of this promising project. He directed “a salute of admiration to the residents of Harbata town in the Bekaa for their warm reception and gracious hospitality, which reflect the authenticity of Bekaa society.”

For his part, PWA Chairman Engineer Mohammed Qabani, in his speech, affirmed that laying the cornerstone of the government hospital in Harbata embodies a shared commitment to enhancing public services and improving the quality of life for residents in the Bekaa. He noted that the project responds to a basic local need to bring essential health services closer to residents and contribute to ensuring that everyone receives medical care regardless of their place of residence. Qabani explained that the hospital will include 15 beds, along with a comprehensive set of essential medical facilities, including emergency, intensive care, medical imaging, and laboratory departments, as well as outpatient clinics and operating rooms.

He viewed the hospital, upon completion of construction and equipping works, as “a vital edifice for providing comprehensive healthcare and developing infrastructure, as well as supporting the local economy by creating jobs and enhancing communities’ capacity to confront economic and developmental challenges in Lebanon.” He pointed out that this project became possible thanks to a grant of four million US dollars provided by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to cover construction and equipping costs, extending his sincere thanks and appreciation to the State of Kuwait, its leadership, government, and people, and to the Kuwait Fund for its valuable contribution and continuous partnership in supporting development in Lebanon.

Qabani reaffirmed the PWA’s commitment to translating national developmental priorities into concrete projects in coordination with public institutions and international partners, focusing on quality, efficiency, accountability, and the proper use of available resources to ensure tangible results that positively impact people’s lives. (End) F.Z. / A.M.S.