Caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanese caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad gave a press conference Monday where he claimed that Lebanon's low maternal mortality rate amid the ongoing economic crisis is a testament to "the resilience of Lebanon's healthcare system."
Abiad was speaking during the presentation of a report on maternal mortality from 2020-2022 that was prepared by the United Nations Population Fund, the Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the National Maternity Safety Committee.
"Despite the enormous challenges posed by the economic crisis, the maternal mortality rate has not risen. This testifies to the resilience of the healthcare system in Lebanon," said Abiad.
"The low maternal mortality rate in Lebanon reflects the considerable efforts made by all stakeholders, from the Ministry of Health to health workers, midwives, doctors and nurses," he added.
Twenty maternal deaths were recorded in 2020 (50 percent Lebanese; 44 percent Syrian), 45 maternal deaths were recorded in 2021, and 18 maternal deaths were recorded in 2022 (51 percent Lebanese; 44 percent Syrian).
"The rate did indeed rise in 2021 due to the Covid-19 epidemic, but quickly returned to previous levels once the effects of the epidemic subsided," said Abiad.
He also affirmed that "all Ministry of Health programs, such as surveillance, data collection, and primary health care, continue to function despite the collapse of many public institutions in Lebanon under the weight of the economic crisis."
Finally, Abiad emphasized that "the Lebanese healthcare system has met a number of challenges, the most important of which is the presence of over one and a half million displaced Syrians on Lebanese soil."