In Lebanon, a telethon for the sick in need of care
A person burned following the explosion of a tank truck in the Geitawi hospital in Beirut, August 15, 2021. © ANWAR AMRO / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The ninth Telethon is being held Thursday, December 23 in Lebanon in a country in the throes of economic collapse.
The event, intended to support mainly people who cannot afford to treat themselves, is only becoming more important.
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Lebanese society is experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis and is turning to its diaspora.
The association
Les toits de Beyrouth
, a non-profit organization, has therefore just opened a branch in France, hoping in this way to receive more support from the Lebanese abroad.
Patients who can no longer pay the fees
The movement is also at the origin of the Telethon, created nine years ago from the French model.
It is broadcast on the local private television channel OTV.
"
Our challenge is much more difficult than the other years because we must, without waiting, cover costs that no longer relate to improving a quality of life, because we just have to save lives,"
explains
Dalia Dagher, founder of the association.
Indeed, because of the valuation of the Lebanese pound, patients who must be hospitalized or undergo a long treatment can no longer pay the amounts required by hospitals since social security or insurance no longer cover all the costs.
"
The aim of the Telethon fundraising this year is therefore to help people who do not have access to healthcare.
About ten families have been selected to receive the donations.
And the Telethon will be held on December 23 from noon to midnight on Lebanese television.
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Lebanon
Economic crisis
Health and medicine