Johannesburg, South Africa – Aspen Global Incorporated, a subsidiary of Pharmacare Limited, Africa’s largest pharmaceutical company, has donated a second supply of life-saving anaesthetics to Lebanon to facilitate surgical interventions to treat an additional 79 000 patients. This donation follows on Aspen’s donation of anaesthetics and oncology products sent to Lebanon in November 2021 to enable the treatment of more than 160 500 patients. Both donations were graciously shipped at no charge by CMA CGM Group from Belgium to Beirut.
On 4 August 2020 the world’s largest non-nuclear ammonium nitrate blast occurred in Beirut, claiming the lives of more than 200 civilians and leaving more than 300 000 homes damaged and destroyed. This catastrophe occurred at a time when the country was experiencing its worst economic decline in decades. The resultant financial and humanitarian crisis has escalated unabated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, banking restrictions and further economic decline.
Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Senior Executive, Strategic Trade said, “Aspen’s primary focus is to save lives and to treat patients around the world with our high quality products, irrespective of their circumstances. The economic and humanitarian crisis being experienced in Lebanon has had a crippling impact on its people, who deserve optimal healthcare, access to critical care, surgical and life-saving interventions. We are pleased to be able to provide a second donation of life-saving anaesthetics to Lebanon, particularly given their dire situation and shortage of critical medical supplies. As the largest manufacturer of anaesthetics outside the United States, we are confident that these donations will contribute towards the recovery of Lebanese patients who are in desperate need of treatment.”
“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts between Mr Kabalan Frangieh, Ambassador of Lebanon to South Africa, Dr Firas Abiad, Minister of Public Health in Lebanon and multiple resources within Aspen who have facilitated these donations.”
Mr Kabalan Frangieh, Ambassador to Lebanon in South Africa, said, “When the embassy started the campaign, we never dreamt that we would be able to make such a difference in the lives of the people in Lebanon. That was until Aspen heard our call and gracefully donated a substantial amount of anaesthetic and oncology products when Lebanon was in great need. The donations of Aspen and CMA CGM Group, together with the coordination of Lebanon’s Honorary Consul in Madagascar Mrs Michelle Azar-Hiridjee, made all the difference to our Lebanese patients.”