22 April 2018 – The World Health Organization in Lebanon is currently preparing its Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) with the country for the coming 5 years. WHO develops the CCS through a consultative process with the Ministry of Public Health and a wide range of stakeholders from other public sectors, civil society, academia and the private sector.
On 19 April 2018, WHO convened a consultative meeting to solicit the views of stakeholders on priorities for WHO’s future cooperation in the area of noncommunicable disease prevention and control. WHO presented results of a recent NCD prevalence survey carried out in collaboration with the Ministry and the NCD focal point briefed the audience on progress made with the implementation of the national NCD action plan.
Participants recommended that WHO become a strong advocate for the implementation of the Lebanese tobacco law. The high rates of tobacco consumption and the lack of implementation of the Lebanese tobacco law are of huge concern. Cigarette and waterpipe smoking inevitably lead to increased morbidity and premature deaths due to cardio-vascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general. It results in substantial loss of productivity and health care cost burdening families, the Lebanese society and the government.
Participants also emphasized the importance of engaging other ministries in the prevention of NCDs such as the Ministries of Finance, Industry, Education because their interventions are required to reduce many NCD risk factors (e.g. salt, sugar and fat intake, physical inactivity).
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