Abou Faour Orders Probe in Infant Death at Ajaltoun Daycare

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour ordered on Monday an investigation in the death of an infant at a daycare center in Ajaltoun in the northern region of Keserouan, reported the National News Agency.

The investigation will tackle the death of four-month-old Elio Salloum at Clarinette et Zoe daycare.

The child was announced dead on arrival at Saint George hospital in Ajaltoun.

The cause and date of death is unknown.

On Friday, Abou Faour referred to the Public Prosecution the case of the death of child Jana Hussein Deeb at Dima daycare in Beirut.

She died on March 16 in mysterious circumstances at the daycare.

Her family filed a complaint to the Health Ministry to tackle the case.

Earlier, Health Ministry inspectors shut two pastry factories in the Western Bekaa region, said NNA.

The factories, located in al-Qadrieh area, did not meet the most basic health standards, it added.

The inspectors destroyed all the products in both facilities which amounted to about two tons of sweets.

The two factories do not have valid licenses and are owned by Syrians Abdullah Zaki al-Saady and Shadi Ibrahim Jheim.

Abou Faour had launched in October a nationwide food safety campaign that has sought to improve health standards in the country.

The campaign has led to the closure of a number of restaurants, warehouses, and slaughterhouses.

Several establishments have since improved their standards.

Abou Faour's campaign has widened to include hospitals and other facilities under his ministry's jurisdiction.

M.T.

Y.R.