Wael Abou Faour
Wael Abou Faour | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 Lebanon |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Minister of Health of Lebanon |
| Spouse | Zeina Hamedeh |
| Children | 4 (Sara, Leen, Adham, Walid) |
Wael Abou Faour (born 1972) is a prominent Lebanese political figure who has held the position of Minister of Health.
Early life
Born in 1974 into a Lebanese Druze household, Faour completed his higher education at the American University of Beirut, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He is married to Zeina Hamedeh and is the father of four children: two daughters named Sara and Leen, along with twin sons, Adham and Walid.
Career
A key member of the Progressive Socialist Party, Faour maintains a close working relationship with party leader Walid Jumblatt. He was first elected as a deputy in 2005, representing Western Bekaa and Rashaya within the Democratic Gathering alliance. During his parliamentary tenure, he contributed to committees focused on agriculture and tourism, youth and sports, as well as information technology. On 11 July 2008, Faour was appointed as a state minister in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Later, in July 2011, he assumed the role of Minister of Social Affairs under Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
While serving as Minister of Public Health, Faour initiated a comprehensive food safety campaign nationwide in November 2014 after detecting extensive regulatory breaches by well-known restaurants and food chains throughout Lebanon.
In 2020, Faour pursued legal action against Wassef El Harakeh following allegations that, during his time as Health Minister, he had smuggled cancer medications into As-Suwayda, Syria, which purportedly resulted in shortages for Lebanese patients.