AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday launched its first COVID-19
vaccination campaign targeting persons with disabilities.
The campaign took place in “14 medical centers and in Beit
Al Shabab in Sports City”. Persons with disabilities lined up in the centers
along with their families.
اضافة اعلان
However, Secretary General of the Higher Council for the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Mohannad Al Ezza described the turnout
later in the day, during an interview with Al-Mamlaka TV, as “weak and
disappointing” citing the fact that only 730 people showed up, the majority of
whom in Amman.
The campaign was organized the Crisis Management Center and
the Ministry of Health.
Priority was given to those who had already registered on a
designated vaccination platform. The person with disabilities needs to present
a medical report from a hospital or the Ministry of Health that states the type
of his disability along with the severity of his condition, in order for him to
take the vaccine, and must also be 18 and above.
The effort will be followed by other campaigns that “take
place once a week, for persons with visual impairment, persons with paralysis
of all kinds, persons with mental illnesses, and persons with hearing
impairment.”
The director of monitoring and coordination at the Higher
Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Abdullah Al Jaloudi, said:
“We expect that the medical centers are well prepared for vaccinating persons
with disabilities all around the country, but it is crucial that they register
their names on the platform.
“As for those who face difficulties in registering on the
platform, we have provided a number that helps them through with the process.”
Head of Lower House Legal Committee Ahmad Sarahnah joined
the voices that criticized the “delay in launching the campaign”.
“This is a dereliction of duty on the government’s and the
Vaccination Committee’s part,” he told Jordan News. These persons are from the
groups that should have had the priority from the beginning. It is their right
as much as it is every other citizen’s right.”
Jalloudi responded: “These campaigns need time to put in
place; they cannot be executed in an overnight.”
Volunteers from We are All Jordan Youth Commission were also
in the scene to offer all kinds of assistance to the persons with disabilities,
and to the medical staff as well.
“We have been here helping out since 7am. We’ve helped a
number of people so far, most of their ages range from 16 to 25. Our purpose is
to help make this process as smooth as possible for these people,” a volunteer,
Mohammad Saleh, said.
The campaign was highly anticipated for months by these
persons and their families. Om Ahmad
Al-Rashdan, who registered on the platform a month ago for her son, Ibrahim
said: “We learned about the news just
yesterday. My son has Down syndrome but he has a job and is engaged, which is
why we couldn’t wait to get my son vaccinated so he could go on with his
everyday life.”
Motasm Shteat, a psychologist at Atlas Autism Center said,
“We were finally able to vaccinate nine students who are above 18 today. This
way we can guarantee their safety and protection. We’ve been constantly
receiving calls from concerned parents who kept asking when their children
would be vaccinated. It’s great to finally put their minds at ease.”
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