Health minister inspects Saida Governmental Hospital, vows 'standing with those displaced'

SAIDA — Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine visited Saida Governmental Hospital as part of his tour of public hospitals in the city to assess their situation and explore ways to support them amid the ongoing Israeli war, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South reported Monday.

Israeli attacks and threats have displaced over a million people in Lebanon, where most people displaced from the South have sought refuge in Saida.

Nasreddine was received by a delegation of doctors and local officials from the region.

During a meeting held in the hospital's conference hall, in the presence of Saida MP Abdel Rahman Bizri, Nassereddine said, “Yesterday, there was an attack in front of Beirut Governmental Hospital, and in the South, there were also attacks targeting both public and private hospitals."

As for the issue of displacement, we are covering 100 percent of the costs for all uninsured Lebanese citizens," he continued. "This places a burden on hospitals and the healthcare sector, but at the same time, it emphasizes that we continue to invest in government hospitals, both in ordinary and difficult times, as we see today."

He added, "We have come to assess the needs of the hospital, and to check on our displaced patients and injured individuals. In the face of the Israeli aggression on the Lebanese health sector, the best way to express patriotism is to keep our healthcare services running, whether we are in Saida or the South."

He also expressed concerns over some hospitals being forced to close due to attacks, citing the case of the Mais al-Jabal Hospital in the Bint Jbeil district, which was occupied by Israeli forces.

"The best way forward is to continue our healthcare services. In places like Bint Jbeil, we also have hospitals. Even though [Salah] Ghandour Hospital was evacuated forcefully, our goal is to keep providing healthcare," Nassereddine said.

Last week, medical staff were evacuated from Salah Ghandour Hospital as a precaution amid fears of an Israeli ground invasion. The evacuation came as Israeli air strikes hit several areas across the Bint Jbeil district, including the city and nearby towns.

Contribution to Saida Governmental Hospital

"There will be a second contribution to Saida Governmental Hospital to ensure its continued operation. As for the nurses in governmental hospitals, we are doing everything possible to support them," he continued. "Mais al-Jabal Hospital has received a contribution to pay the salaries, and the hospital director must manage this financially.”

For his part, Bizri welcomed Nasreddine, stating, "Saida, the capital of the South, has always played its national role, and this is not the first time it has done so. In this city, we adopt two key principles: first, we do not see displaced people as refugees, but as guests and our fellow citizens, and we address this issue both medically, socially, and educationally in every possible way.

Reporting contributed by our correspondent in the South, Muntasser Abdallah.