WHO / AFGHANISTAN LEBANON
Preview Language:
Original
Type
Language
Format
Acquire
Description
STORY: WHO / AFGHANISTAN LEBANON
TRT: 5:18
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST:
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, WHO headquarters exterior
23 SEPTEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"I must say I am deeply concerned by the impact of the current crisis on the health and wellbeing of Lebanon’s people, and the risks we face of losing the health gains that Lebanon had made over the last decades. The deadly combination of the political and financial crisis, last year’s explosion at Beirut port, and the COVID-19 pandemic are having devastating consequences for the health of Lebanon’s people. There is a serious shortage of supplies, medical equipment, fuel and electricity. 2000 medical doctors and 1500 registered nurses have left the country, and 600 private pharmacies have closed. WHO continues to work to support the health system and the delivery of essential services and supplies. "
4. Wide shot, press room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Unless urgent action is taken, Afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Health workers are leaving, creating a brain drain that will have consequences for years to come. We visited a hospital where we met some nurses who have stayed. My heart broke when they told me they have not been paid in three months, but they said they would continue to serve their patients."
6. Wide shot, press room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Education is essential for protecting and promoting health in all countries, both in terms of health literacy, and for building the health workforce. The Taliban leadership has announced that primary schools are open for boys and girls, and that they are preparing to open high schools to girls. In our discussions we offered to support that process, and speed it up, in partnership with other UN agencies."
8. Wide shot, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"The focus of our efforts now is to support and sustain the Sehatmandi project, which is the backbone of Afghanistan’s health system, providing care for millions of people through 2,300 health facilities, including in remote areas. But a funding pause by major donors, only 17 per cent of these facilities are fully functional, and two-thirds have stock-outs of essential medicines. As a stop-gap measure, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are financing WHO and our partners to ensure continuity of health services for the next three months. But this is simply not enough. WHO is calling on international donors to rapidly re-commit to finance Sehatmandi, as they have done for almost two decades."
10. Wide shot, press room
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization (WHO):
"During all our meetings over the past week, one key message stood out: although the leadership in these countries has changed, the innocent men, women and children who are still at risk and need our support have not changed. We will continue to strongly advocate for health as neutral and a basic human right. Under our regional vision of health for all, we cannot — and will not — desert the people of Lebanon, Afghanistan, and any of the peoples that need our services at any time and in any location God willing."
12. Wide shot, press room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Programme (WHO):
"We currently spend around the world at least 2,000 billion USD a year in defense spending. Yet, we can barely defend ourselves against the tiny microbe. I think it is time for the world to relook at its priorities. We need to defend ourselves against climate change, defend ourselves against the horrific impacts of social inequity, defend ourselves against the impact of tiny microbes. And it is time for the world to have a really big conversation about what our priorities are."
14. Med shot, WHO emblem on wall
STORYLINE:
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said Lebanon risks losing the health gains it made over the last decade and stressed that unless urgent action is taken, “Afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.”
In a press conference in Geneva today (23 Sep) follow visits to the two countries, Dr Tedros said he was “deeply concerned by the impact of the current crisis on the health and wellbeing of Lebanon’s people, and the risks we face of losing the health gains that Lebanon had made over the last decades.” He underscored that the “deadly combination of the political and financial crisis, last year’s explosion at Beirut port, and the COVID-19 pandemic are having devastating consequences for the health of Lebanon’s people.”
The WHO chief said there was a serious shortage of supplies, medical equipment, fuel and electricity in Lebanon, adding that some “2000 medical doctors and 1500 registered nurses have left the country, and 600 private pharmacies have closed.” He said WHO continues to work to support the health system and the delivery of essential services and supplies in Lebanon.
Turning to Afghanistan, Dr Tedros said health workers are leaving the country, “creating a brain drain that will have consequences for years to come.” He met with nurses at a hospital during his visit who told him that they had “not been paid in three months, but they said they would continue to serve their patients."
The Director-General said education is essential for protecting and promoting health in all countries, both in terms of health literacy, and for building the health workforce. He said, “The Taliban leadership has announced that primary schools are open for boys and girls, and that they are preparing to open high schools to girls. In our discussions we offered to support that process, and speed it up, in partnership with other UN agencies."
Dr Tedros Adhanom said the focus of WHO’s efforts now is to support and sustain the Sehatmandi project, “which is the backbone of Afghanistan’s health system, providing care for millions of people through 2,300 health facilities, including in remote areas.” However, he reported that, with a funding pause by major donors, only 17 per cent of these facilities are fully functional, and “two-thirds have stock-outs of essential medicines.”
As a stop-gap measure, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are financing WHO and its partners to ensure continuity of health services for the next three months. Dr Tedros said, “But this is simply not enough. WHO is calling on international donors to rapidly re-commit to finance Sehatmandi, as they have done for almost two decades."
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari had accompanied Dr Tedros on his mission. He said one key message stood out in all their meetings in Lebanon and Afghanistan: "although the leadership in these countries has changed, the innocent men, women and children who are still at risk and need our support have not changed.”
Al-Mandhari said WHO would continue to strongly advocate for health as “neutral and a basic human right.” He added, “Under our regional vision of health for all, we cannot — and will not — desert the people of Lebanon, Afghanistan, and any of the peoples that need our services at any time and in any location God willing."
Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said the world currently spends “at least 2,000 billion USD a year in defense spending. Yet, we can barely defend ourselves against the tiny microbe.” He said, “I think it is time for the world to relook at its priorities. We need to defend ourselves against climate change, defend ourselves against the horrific impacts of social inequity, defend ourselves against the impact of tiny microbes. And it is time for the world to have a really big conversation about what our priorities are."
TRT: 5:18
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST:
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, WHO headquarters exterior
23 SEPTEMBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"I must say I am deeply concerned by the impact of the current crisis on the health and wellbeing of Lebanon’s people, and the risks we face of losing the health gains that Lebanon had made over the last decades. The deadly combination of the political and financial crisis, last year’s explosion at Beirut port, and the COVID-19 pandemic are having devastating consequences for the health of Lebanon’s people. There is a serious shortage of supplies, medical equipment, fuel and electricity. 2000 medical doctors and 1500 registered nurses have left the country, and 600 private pharmacies have closed. WHO continues to work to support the health system and the delivery of essential services and supplies. "
4. Wide shot, press room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Unless urgent action is taken, Afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Health workers are leaving, creating a brain drain that will have consequences for years to come. We visited a hospital where we met some nurses who have stayed. My heart broke when they told me they have not been paid in three months, but they said they would continue to serve their patients."
6. Wide shot, press room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Education is essential for protecting and promoting health in all countries, both in terms of health literacy, and for building the health workforce. The Taliban leadership has announced that primary schools are open for boys and girls, and that they are preparing to open high schools to girls. In our discussions we offered to support that process, and speed it up, in partnership with other UN agencies."
8. Wide shot, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"The focus of our efforts now is to support and sustain the Sehatmandi project, which is the backbone of Afghanistan’s health system, providing care for millions of people through 2,300 health facilities, including in remote areas. But a funding pause by major donors, only 17 per cent of these facilities are fully functional, and two-thirds have stock-outs of essential medicines. As a stop-gap measure, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are financing WHO and our partners to ensure continuity of health services for the next three months. But this is simply not enough. WHO is calling on international donors to rapidly re-commit to finance Sehatmandi, as they have done for almost two decades."
10. Wide shot, press room
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization (WHO):
"During all our meetings over the past week, one key message stood out: although the leadership in these countries has changed, the innocent men, women and children who are still at risk and need our support have not changed. We will continue to strongly advocate for health as neutral and a basic human right. Under our regional vision of health for all, we cannot — and will not — desert the people of Lebanon, Afghanistan, and any of the peoples that need our services at any time and in any location God willing."
12. Wide shot, press room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Programme (WHO):
"We currently spend around the world at least 2,000 billion USD a year in defense spending. Yet, we can barely defend ourselves against the tiny microbe. I think it is time for the world to relook at its priorities. We need to defend ourselves against climate change, defend ourselves against the horrific impacts of social inequity, defend ourselves against the impact of tiny microbes. And it is time for the world to have a really big conversation about what our priorities are."
14. Med shot, WHO emblem on wall
STORYLINE:
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said Lebanon risks losing the health gains it made over the last decade and stressed that unless urgent action is taken, “Afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.”
In a press conference in Geneva today (23 Sep) follow visits to the two countries, Dr Tedros said he was “deeply concerned by the impact of the current crisis on the health and wellbeing of Lebanon’s people, and the risks we face of losing the health gains that Lebanon had made over the last decades.” He underscored that the “deadly combination of the political and financial crisis, last year’s explosion at Beirut port, and the COVID-19 pandemic are having devastating consequences for the health of Lebanon’s people.”
The WHO chief said there was a serious shortage of supplies, medical equipment, fuel and electricity in Lebanon, adding that some “2000 medical doctors and 1500 registered nurses have left the country, and 600 private pharmacies have closed.” He said WHO continues to work to support the health system and the delivery of essential services and supplies in Lebanon.
Turning to Afghanistan, Dr Tedros said health workers are leaving the country, “creating a brain drain that will have consequences for years to come.” He met with nurses at a hospital during his visit who told him that they had “not been paid in three months, but they said they would continue to serve their patients."
The Director-General said education is essential for protecting and promoting health in all countries, both in terms of health literacy, and for building the health workforce. He said, “The Taliban leadership has announced that primary schools are open for boys and girls, and that they are preparing to open high schools to girls. In our discussions we offered to support that process, and speed it up, in partnership with other UN agencies."
Dr Tedros Adhanom said the focus of WHO’s efforts now is to support and sustain the Sehatmandi project, “which is the backbone of Afghanistan’s health system, providing care for millions of people through 2,300 health facilities, including in remote areas.” However, he reported that, with a funding pause by major donors, only 17 per cent of these facilities are fully functional, and “two-thirds have stock-outs of essential medicines.”
As a stop-gap measure, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are financing WHO and its partners to ensure continuity of health services for the next three months. Dr Tedros said, “But this is simply not enough. WHO is calling on international donors to rapidly re-commit to finance Sehatmandi, as they have done for almost two decades."
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari had accompanied Dr Tedros on his mission. He said one key message stood out in all their meetings in Lebanon and Afghanistan: "although the leadership in these countries has changed, the innocent men, women and children who are still at risk and need our support have not changed.”
Al-Mandhari said WHO would continue to strongly advocate for health as “neutral and a basic human right.” He added, “Under our regional vision of health for all, we cannot — and will not — desert the people of Lebanon, Afghanistan, and any of the peoples that need our services at any time and in any location God willing."
Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said the world currently spends “at least 2,000 billion USD a year in defense spending. Yet, we can barely defend ourselves against the tiny microbe.” He said, “I think it is time for the world to relook at its priorities. We need to defend ourselves against climate change, defend ourselves against the horrific impacts of social inequity, defend ourselves against the impact of tiny microbes. And it is time for the world to have a really big conversation about what our priorities are."
Series
Category
Topical Subjects
Personal Subjects
Geographic Subjects
Corporate Subjects
Creator
WHO
Alternate Title
unifeed210923b
Asset ID
2657317