Minister of Health Dr. Ibrahim Al-Bdour affirmed that despite economic challenges and limited resources, Jordan has never hesitated to fulfill its humanitarian and health duties toward its Arab brothers. He emphasized that the Kingdom has shouldered the burden of regional displacement, provided advanced health services to refugees, established field hospitals, and received patients from the Gaza Strip.
اضافة اعلان
This came during his participation in the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, which began Wednesday in Cairo, with the participation of health ministers and representatives from regional health institutions. The meetings discuss key current health challenges, including strengthening health systems, expanding immunization services, and addressing the impact of climate change on public health.
Al-Bdour noted that the Syrian crisis, which began in 2011, was a true test of the Jordanian health system’s resilience and adaptability, as the Kingdom received hundreds of thousands of refugees—placing tremendous pressure on healthcare facilities, particularly in northern governorates.
He added that Jordan adopted a policy of integrating refugees into the national health system rather than creating parallel structures, reflecting its commitment to equity and justice in service delivery.
The Minister also highlighted Jordan’s humanitarian response to the health crisis in Gaza, which included dispatching field hospitals, medical missions, and several initiatives—most notably the “Jordanian Medical Corridor” initiative that enabled the transfer and treatment of wounded and sick individuals in Jordanian hospitals.
According to Al-Bdour, Jordan has so far received 12 batches of injured patients, including complex cases in cardiac surgery, oncology, severe trauma, and chronic diseases.
The Ministry of Health’s statement on Thursday indicated that the session, which continues until Friday, discusses five key technical files, most notably the recovery of health systems in conflict zones amid ongoing wars and humanitarian crises that have weakened basic healthcare infrastructures in several countries in the region.
Other topics include reducing the number of unvaccinated children, integrating palliative care into health services, enhancing laboratory safety, and developing a regional framework to address the effects of climate change on public health.
The meetings will also review several progress reports on priority health issues, including breast cancer, strengthening health governance, improving access to medicines, supporting healthcare personnel, and combating substance abuse.
