Maaloula Health Center back into service soon, Minister says

Damascus Countryside, SANA – Minister of Health Saad al-Nayef assured on Thursday that the health center in Maaloula town will be back into service in the coming few days.

The predominantly Christian town, in Damascus Countryside, was ravaged by terrorism, with its religious monasteries and symbols as well as infrastructure sustaining severe damage, before the army restored security to it after recapturing it from the armed terrorist groups last April.

During a tour in the town, accompanied by the Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Elizabeth Huff, the Minister said rehabilitation works for the health center will start next Sunday so that for it to be back into service in the coming weeks.

Once fully rehabilitated, the center will be provided with advanced medical equipment, according to the Minister, who noted that equipment supply, will be carried out in cooperation with the WHO, as are the repair works.

Huff, for her part, revealed that the international organization is outlining a plan to pick the most terrorist-damaged health centers and hospitals to work on rehabilitating them.

She affirmed that the WHO will continue providing the health facilities in Syria with the necessary medicines and needs.

Besides the health center, the tour also included St. Thecla Monastery.

H. Said