UNIFIL healthcare peacekeepers work relentlessly to prevent spread of COVID-19 virus

Today, on World Health Day, UNIFIL joins the World Health Organization (WHO) in honouring doctors and nurses, not just in Lebanon, but everywhere in the world, as they are on the frontlines of the fight against the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. UNIFIL doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are playing an outstanding role during this crisis. Commanding Officer Lt. Col. G.S. Suri of UNIFIL Naqoura Hospital, who is also an ENT surgeon from India, is one of them. "As you all know, WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic disease. In this UNIFIL Hospital, we have taken extra measures to establish triage centre outside the Hospital Gate and whenever the local population come to the Hospital, my doctors and my paramedics examine (them),” he said. “If the patient is having fever, they will get the treatment and will not be allowed to be in the camp.” Lt. Col. Suri and many other UNIFIL healthcare practitioners like him, in the forefront of COVID-19 response, are putting their own health at risk to protect our fellow peacekeepers and the host population in south Lebanon. Every day, UNIFIL medical team are implementing rigorous precautionary measures and WHO guidelines to ensure their own safety as well as that of their patients. “As a precautionary measure, my doctors and paramedics examine the patient ensuring that he/she doesn’t have fever or cough or shortness of breath, then that patient will be allowed to enter into the Hospital and get examined by the respective specialist,” he concluded. UNIFIL joins the global call to commend health service personnel for their tireless round-the-clock monitoring, testing and treatment of patients. In addition, UNIFIL has been providing medical supplies and equipment as part of the Mission’s broader efforts to assist the local population and communities in the common fight against the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. On UNIFIL’s part, the Mission, from the very beginning of the virus outbreak, has taken all the necessary precautionary measures to prevent any infection of the virus among the Mission’s more than 11,000 military and civilian peacekeepers as well as the host populations. World Health Day 2020: Theme This year’s World Health Day 2020 theme is 'Support nurses and midwives' and it honours the inspiring commitment of healthcare workers around the world contributing towards the fight against COVID-19 outbreak. April 7 of each year marks World Health Day. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the observance of this day has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.