Hôtel-Dieu de France received the “OPELAIII machine”, a generous donation offered by Taiyo Corporation, through its representative “Samir Hani Group” in Lebanon. ‘Wearable Surgical Lighting System OPELAIII” has many advantages such as a high intensity (3 LEDs with output of 145,000 lux), a patented heat management technology that allows it to be powerful yet safe and an innovative optical design that reaches into deep cavity areas. OPELAIII can be used for cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, or in the ER and ICU.

This donation was delivered to Hôtel-Dieu de France in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pr Salim Daccache s.j., the General Director, Mr. Nassib Nasr, members of the administration and representatives from “Samir Hani Group”.

Mr. President,

Mr. Minister,

Reverend Father Rector,

Mr. Director-General,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

One hundred years ago, the foundation stone of the Hôtel-Dieu de France was laid, completing the creation of a major university hospital of reference in Lebanon and in the region, after the opening of the Faculty of Medicine at Saint Joseph University in 1883. A project with a triple ambition to which we are very attached: francophonie, excellence and solidarity towards the most vulnerable and the most modest.

This centenary is an opportunity to reflect, to use a term dear to the Jesuits, but also to celebrate and recognize what has been made possible by the Franco-Lebanese friendship and accomplished in a century in the service of the sick, medicine and access to health care for all.

Today, there is emotion, joy, and pride in coming together, despite the adversity of the context.

The Hôtel-Dieu (HDF) is indeed one of those institutions that "shaped" Lebanon.

It is an institution linked to the history of the country, and to its hardships as well. I would like to give two examples of this:

1. throughout the 1975-1990 war, the HDF was on the dividing line, and welcomed Catholics, Orthodox, Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, without making any difference between people, as it continues to do today;
2. recently, the hospital reserved an unconditional welcome for the injured of the popular movements of October 2019 and then, on the night of August 4, for the injured of the double explosion on the port.

It is a reference health institution in general in Lebanon. I am thinking for example of the contribution of the work of Father Ducruet, former rector of USJ and former president of the Board of Directors of HDF to the design of a public health policy.

The HDF is an illustration of the unfailing and singular affection that unites France and Lebanon.

This is reflected:

• in the conditions of the emphyteutic lease granted by France, which consists almost of providing the land on which the hospital is located;
• in the density of hospital-university cooperation with French institutions, without any equivalent;
• in the attachment of the French community living in Lebanon to "their" hospital;
• in the emergency aid mobilized after the explosion and in response to the health crisis.

Today, the Hôtel-Dieu de France faces the challenge of the profound crisis that this country is experiencing.

Reverend Father Daccache you have decided to move forward, without giving up, to make the crisis an opportunity to rebound, to work differently, so that the HDF remains the institution of reference that it is, by giving it new life.

You are supported in this task by the Director General, Mr. Nassib Nasr, to whom I would like to pay special tribute today. Dear Nassib, you do not neglect any subject: from the logo to the autonomous production of electricity, including access to health care for the most vulnerable, without forgetting the mutualization and the union of forces with the neighboring hospitals of Achrafieh, in order to have a greater influence in the negotiations.

Both of you always insist, on the fact that you work as a team, with Professor Roland Tomb, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, because the vocation of the HDF is above all academic, with the management teams, with the teams of support services, with the nursing staff. To all of you, I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to your commitment, your courage, your generosity and your sense of responsibility. This honors you.

For all of you who spare no effort to ensure that the USJ and the Hôtel-Dieu remain institutions of excellence, faithful to their commitments, in particular their social vocation, because access to health care is a fundamental aspect of the primary right, the right to life, France remains at your side.

The President of the Republic promised not to let go of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, despite the troubled times we are living in all over the world. In fulfillment of this presidential promise, and on this special day, I am honored to announce that an exceptional joint support to the University of Saint Joseph and the Hôtel-Dieu de France has been granted.

• 1 million euros of exceptional aid will be given to the USJ to allow it to pursue its support to the students who need it the most. Indeed, this country must continue to be able to train its future talents here in Lebanon. We wish to support nearly 1000 students. This will be done thanks to the Oriental schools funds and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
• A significant drug donation that we are in the process of finalizing with the Ministry of Health, the AP HP and AP HM to provide and deliver to the Hôtel-Dieu the medicines it needs and that it can no longer find locally. This is based on the identification of needs established by the AP HP.

Even if the crisis constantly brings us back to urgent and daily concerns, this centenary is an opportunity to look to the future. Places like the HDF, through their vocation of teaching, passing on knowledge, opening up to the international community and welcoming the most vulnerable, constitute the core of a revival, for a more stable, prosperous and recovered Lebanon.

Le Ministre de la Santé, Dr Firass Abyad, a espéré que "l'approbation d'un montant de 35 millions de dollars pour le paiement de médicaments et de fournitures médicales par le Conseil des ministres, cet après-midi, constituera un pas pour surmonter la pénurie de médicaments, en particulier de médicaments pour les maladies cancéreuses et incurables."

Il s'est dit satisfait de la "décision de transférer 64 milliards de livres libanaises de la réserve budgétaire pour couvrir l'augmentation du tarif des traitements de dialyse qui a été récemment adoptée."

Le Ministre de la Santé, prononça un discours  lors de sa participation à la cérémonie organisée par l'Hôtel-Dieu de France, à l'invitation du président du conseil d'administration de l'hôpital, Pr Salim Daccache s.j., sur la cérémonie d'inauguration du centenaire de l'Hôtel-Dieu de France, à laquelle ont assisté le président Amin Gemayel, le nonce apostolique Monseigneur Joseph sieur Spiteri et l'ambassadrice de France Anne Grillo.

Au début de son discours, le Ministre de la Santé, Dr Firas Abiad, a signalé que : "La fondation de l'Hôtel-Dieu de France en 1922 est intervenue à un moment où le Liban traversait une phase charnière de son histoire. Le monde sortait d'une première guerre mondiale dont le Liban a été considérablement affecté. Il y a eu une famine qui a anéanti les citoyens libanais dont beaucoup d'entre eux ont émigré. Le monde a également connu une pandémie mondiale, celle de la grippe espagnole.

La région subissait des changements politiques et géographiques majeurs. Au milieu de toutes ces circonstances, le Liban moderne et ses systèmes se sont formés. Des universités et des collèges médicaux et infirmiers ont été créés, ainsi que des hôpitaux universitaires, qui ont constitué des lueurs d’espoir et ont conduit le Liban vers l'émergence de ses conditions difficiles, contribuant à son accession à la position de leader, comme l'Université du Moyen-Orient et l'Hôpital de l'Est. "

Il a ajouté : "Aujourd'hui, nous traversons également une période critique et des conditions qui peuvent être similaires à ce que notre patrie a connu il y a cent ans, une phase où les défis se multiplient et où des questions difficiles sont posées concernant le secteur de la santé et des hôpitaux." La crise économique et financière a entraîné une baisse des importations, en particulier des médicaments et des fournitures, ainsi que la migration des capacités humaines des médecins, des infirmières et des travailleurs, en plus de l'incapacité de beaucoup à accéder aux services de santé requis. "

Durant son discours, le Ministre de la santé demanda: " Y a-t-il une résurrection pour le Liban et son système de santé ? Y a-t-il un rôle pour les hôpitaux universitaires ? Le premier pas vers la résurrection   est de soutenir la résilience/persévérance du personnel médical et des institutions hospitalières en fournissant les ressources financières et les liquidités nécessaires pour créer de meilleures opportunités d'emploi et suivre les principes de bonne gestion et de bonne gouvernance pour assurer la durabilité de ces institutions dans des conditions financières et administratives strictes, en plus de créer des espaces communs de coopération entre les secteurs public et privé et des partenariats entre les organisations, les organismes internationaux et les institutions locales qui aideront à unifier la vision des problèmes et des solutions présentées et ainsi travailler dans un cadre qui prévaudra sur l'intérêt commun de l'individu .

Le Ministre de la Santé a noté que "malgré les circonstances difficiles du Liban, une série de partenariats et de joint-ventures réussis ont vu le jour, auxquels l'Hôtel-Dieu de France a participé tout en faisant face à la pandémie de coronavirus et au développement du travail dans les hôpitaux gouvernementaux des régions. Son Excellence a également noté : "Il était difficile pour les Libanais d'il y a 100 ans d'imaginer le progrès et la prospérité que le Liban connaîtra dans les décennies suivantes, mais les crises engendrent  toujours des opportunités.

Il a ajouté : "Nous célébrons une institution ponctuée de beaux et de sombres jours, mais le travail acharné et la foi en la patrie ont permis de maintenir son rôle de leader, alors je suis sûr que le peuple libanais peut surmonter ses difficultés actuelles et, après un certain temps, revenir à la célébration de beaucoup de nouvelles offres et réalisations."

 

 

Mr. Former President of the Republic

Your Excellency, the Minister of Health

Your Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio

Your Excellency, the Ambassador of France

Reverend Monsignors

Reverend Father Provincial

Ministers

Gentlemen/ Your Excellencies the Ambassadors

Presidents of the orders and unions

Presidents and Rectors of Universities

General Directors

Reverend Father Rector of USJ and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hôtel-Dieu de France

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is difficult for me to bear a testimony of the centenary of Hôtel-Dieu de France, having been in my position for only a few months.

 

However, looking back, and discovering the rich history of this hospital that has become a real institution at the national and regional level, gives me and all the medical and administrative teams the hope to continue, the courage to move forward and overcome difficulties and challenges.

History is just an eternal beginning: periods of construction followed by periods of destruction, an age of glory followed by years of misery, moments of hope followed by moments of distress. And as we go through the history of Hôtel-Dieu de France, we notice that there has always been a common denominator: the men and women who have preceded us, 100 years ago, 75 years ago, or 50 years ago, they all had an unshakeable faith in the construction of Lebanon and in the development of the health sector despite wars, crises, and dangers. This faith gave them courage, energy, and above all the passion to persevere, to start over, to rebuild, and to develop future plans.

Lebanon is going through one of the darkest periods it has known since its independence. The worst perhaps, only history will tell.

Our national governance has been largely lacking, the deafening absence of the Government makes our task even more complicated.

When we feel that everything is collapsing, that our dreams are flying away and that there is no more hope, then we look back, we take inspiration from our elders, their optimism, and their will.

And that's when we understand that there is only one option: to stand up and move forward.

 

Our social and humanitarian vocations are no longer debatable. We have a cause, this is our responsibility. We have not endured a hundred years to die today; our moral strength, our faith, our confidence and our exceptional cohesion explain our persistence

Our mission does not give us the right to be weak; we will even raise our level of requirements. The requirements must be permanent and at all levels.

After 10 months of hard work in the office, I have made a major discovery, this place is endearing, and it overwhelms you. At the Hôtel-Dieu there is not one history, but thousands of stories, stories full of heart, often beautiful, moving, sometimes dramatic, and life lessons with one common factor: the well-being of the patient.

For the past 10 months, I have been conducting a candid analysis of the hospital and its components to learn about our strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and opportunities. Seeing the state of the country, some pessimistic souls will say that there is no more hope. I would like to answer them that there is no despair either. If it is necessary to damage us, we will have to fall and we will not fall.

What the last 100 years have taught us is that the times, the scale and the challenges have changed.

What we have learned from the last two years is that the times, the scale and the challenges have also changed. As you can see, the world is moving forward at an incredible speed. It is up to us to adapt, to be flexible, modern and reactive and the same applies to our future.

I would like to end with a sincere thank you:

I salute the historical mission of France, which has always supported the Hospital for 100 years; I thank France for all the support it has given to Hôtel-Dieu following the explosion of August 4. I would like to thank the French Ambassador, Ms. Grillo and her team for always being attentive to our problems and God knows how many they are.

I would like to thank the Chairman of the Board of Directors of HDF, Reverend Father Salim Daccache for his confidence, his advice and his benevolence.

I would like to thank all my colleagues from the medical, nursing and administrative staff.

I would like to thank all the people who worked for the success of this ceremony and for the organization of all the activities that will animate this centennial year.

The members of the centennial committee, USJ and SPCOM, Mr. Naji Boulos our consultant who skillfully managed the organization of this ceremony, Mr. Rabih Kanaan, head of HDF communication unit and his team who did a tremendous job and developed the new visual identity of the Hospital. All the operations teams who make this ceremony happen.

Now, we will watch together a short film about the history of HDF and its common history with the USJ.

I wish you a wonderful evening!