Our response to #COVID19 in will be AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK. Certain areas and the well-to-do are served by a strong, mainly private, healthcare system. The rest depend on an overstreatched and underdeveloped public sector. This is where the virus may spread undetected.

@mophleb is collaborating with international donors to strengthen and improve the capacity of public hospitals. Work is being done to provide equipments and supplies, such as ventilators and PPEs. Two particular areas where RHUH is helping are testing and staff preparedness.

Testing equipment donated by @WHOLebanon was installed yesterday and we will be doing 500 tests daily. We are working with @mophleb and @RedCrossLebanon to set posts in various locations with limited access to testing. Samples will be sent to RHUH daily. Early detection is key.

RHUH is helping in staff #COVID19 preparedness in other public hospitals. Full-day workshops are part of an initiative organized in collaboration with @mophleb. To date, teams from 16 sister public hospitals have participated. We are planning on expanding this initiative.

Other academic and private institutions have initiated other projects to strengthen the response of the system as well, @AUBMC_Official , @LebAmUniv, @USJLiban, @saintgeorgehosp to name a few. The sooner the system grows stronger, the sooner the lockdown can be eased.