Health Minister Uriel Buso said on Monday that medical centers in northern Israel are preparing for a potential blackout, prompted by the escalating threat of Hezbollah targeting energy infrastructure amid ongoing skirmishes on the northern front.
Minister Buso said that the Health Ministry is taking proactive steps by equipping hospitals and clinics with necessary resources, including generators. "At any given moment, over 45,000 people are receiving home care, with approximately 3,000 on ventilators. Should we face a blackout, the tasks for all health organizations will be enormous and unending. Therefore, our joint efforts with local authorities are vital and life-saving in every sense of the word," he told the MUNI EXPO 2024, an international municipal innovation conference.
Buso also spoke of the collaborations between his ministry and local authorities during the war, announcing an upcoming initiative with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Prime Minister's Office aiming to promote physical and mental health and resilience within the community, with local leadership playing a crucial role in driving and advancing health and mental resilience.
Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, "If the blackout scenario becomes a reality, we will not be able to cope alone. We must grant authority and work in partnership with local authorities to overcome this challenge."
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Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov and Health Minister Uriel Buso, first and second from left, respectively
(Photo: Gal Sazon)
He added that local government has a direct impact on public health through health education in schools and infrastructure projects like walking paths. "The importance of collaboration for public health was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to involved local leaders who took responsibility, the situation looked different. Together, with the commitment of both us and local authorities, we achieve results. Even now, during the war, we continue to work together, and this collaboration extends to routine times as well."
Haim Bibas, chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities, highlighted the growing cooperation between the Health Ministry and local authorities since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Local government is recognized as the executive arm of the state. In recent years, we have worked closely together, leading to real changes on the ground. The Health Ministry was one of the first to understand the significance of the event on October 7. Our collaboration during COVID proved effective, and we continued this cooperation in October 2023. We have important interfaces not only in emergencies but also in routine operations."