Hadath: The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Rakan Nassereddine, participated in a meeting organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Lebanese University and the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Lebanon. The event, held in celebration of World Food Safety Day under the theme 'Food Safety: From Science to Solutions, Toward Safe Food Everywhere,' took place at the Lebanese University in Hadath, under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the meeting included a roundtable discussion with participants such as the President of the Lebanese University, Professor Bassem Badran, FAO Representative in Lebanon, Noura Urabach Haddad, the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Engineer Louis Lahoud, and the President of the Lebanese Food Safety Authority, Professor Ely Aouad, along with several officials, deans, faculty directors, and experts.
In his speech, Minister Nassereddine emphasized the importance of institutional partnerships to ensure effectiveness in food safety. He recalled the memory of two martyred teachers, Dr. Hussein Bazzi and Dr. Mourtada Sarour, at the entrance of the Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University, in the context of war and attacks suffered by Lebanon.
He highlighted the essential role of the Lebanese University, describing it not only as an educational institution but as one that shapes future generations and represents the face of Lebanon. He stressed the need to rely on its central role in public policy development under wise and responsible leadership.
The minister stated that food safety is a crucial part of the Ministry of Public Health's work, despite its many responsibilities, including drug supply, hospital care, and monitoring the wounded and displaced. He insisted on the importance of partnership and shared responsibilities, particularly through the role of the National Food Safety Authority.
He also declared that monopolizing expertise within ministries is ineffective, noting that the Ministry of Health is one of the most open to cooperation, especially in food safety and recommendations from this meeting.
The minister specified that the Directorate of Health Prevention within the ministry is responsible for following this issue, affirming that partnership does not diminish the ministry's role in issuing useful directives and recommendations. He stressed that cooperation yields positive results, citing recent collaboration in addressing poisoning cases among the displaced.
He expressed hope that this meeting would lead to important recommendations and a new positive dynamic in Lebanon after the war, calling for the country to become a reference in scientific success and international cooperation.
Finally, he indicated that the Ministry of Public Health relies on ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lebanese University and expressed hope for the imminent opening of the central drug laboratory at the Lebanese University. This project, approved by the Council of Ministers at the initiative of the Ministry of Health, is in the final stages of administrative and technical completion, with equipment being progressively received, aiming for an upcoming operational launch in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.