The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon met with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) for a briefing on the cholera response on 29 September 2023 following the Philippine government’s contribution to IOM’s cholera outbreak emergency response fund. The meeting also tackled critical health concerns of Filipino migrant workers in Lebanon and the existing programs accessible to migrants.

H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, along with Third Secretaries and Vice Consuls Miko Cabatingan and Glaiza Quarteros, welcomed IOM Head, Mr. Mathieu Luciano, Programs Head, Duncan Sullivan, and Medical Officer, Dr. Joseph Zgheib. Dr. Atika Berri, Head of the Preventive Medicine Department, represented MoPH.

H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat (left) with Dr. Atika Berry (right) following the IOM and MoPH briefing.

Following the end of the outbreak in June 2023, parties discussed the Philippine contribution in relation to the need to sustain the monitoring and prevention programs in place to preempt future outbreaks. At the onset of the cholera outbreak, the Philippine Embassy also provided the Filipino translation of IOM’s information, education, and communication materials which were disseminated in public spaces to raise awareness on cholera, its symptoms, preventative measures, and available health services.

IOM also briefed the Embassy on its healthcare program for migrants which complements the Embassy’s medical assistance to Filipino nationals and MoPH’s public vaccination and treatment programs accessible to migrants.

The Philippine Embassy remains committed to strengthen its diplomatic relations with Lebanon by engaging government stakeholders and international organizations in addressing key issues and concerns that affect migrants in Lebanon. 

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