The launch ceremony for the specialized programme “Life-Saving and Limb-Saving Hospitalization” took place on September 9, 2026, in Beirut at the St. George Hospital University Medical Center.
The programme is funded with 500,000 euros by the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Hellenic Aid and is implemented in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The programme aims to strengthen critical units of the hospital – such as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – as well as to ensure access to life-saving healthcare services for the most vulnerable population groups.
The ceremony was attended by the Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audi, the CEO of the Hospital Dr. Ziad Haydar, the WHO Representative in Lebanon Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, and representatives of the Embassy of Greece. All attendees commended Greece’s ongoing humanitarian solidarity and its long-standing support for the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Meanwhile, a new similar Greek contribution is underway to enable the opening and operation of a hospital in Balamand, North Lebanon.
In her address, the Ambassador of Greece in Beirut, Ms. Despina Koukoulopoulou, referred to the long-standing and established cooperation with this landmark hospital, recalling that Greece had equipped it with a helipad two decades ago and provided immediate assistance following the catastrophic explosion at the Port of Beirut in 2020. She emphasized that this new donation is part of Greece’s enduring commitment to supporting the people and institutions of Lebanon, contributing substantially to securing access for the most vulnerable groups to life-saving healthcare services.
Through these initiatives, Greece ranks 1st among donor countries to the WHO in Lebanon (and the 2nd largest international donor overall after the EU’s DG ECHO), while unquestionably holding the 1st position globally in relation to its GDP.
