Expanding and Equipping Ministry of Health Facilities Impacted by the Syrian Crisis in Jordan

According to the 2015 census, there are 1,265,514 Syrians in Jordan. Since the start of the crisis and based on the most recent UNHCR figures, around 660,500 Syrians have registered as refugees with UNHCR in Jordan. As a result of the significant influx of Syrian refugees and the increased demand on the already over-extended social services system, the livelihoods and access to quality public services in the host communities have been significantly affected. According to the Health Sector Vulnerability Assessment, the Jordan Response Plan (JRP) 2017-2019 suggests that 22% of the population in Jordan face challenges accessing services, given that the existing healthcare centres serve more people than the national standard of one centre per 60,000 people.

Given the multitude of pressures on the Jordanian healthcare system, there is a need to further strengthen the Ministry of Health (MoH) through support for consumables, equipment, infrastructure, and human resources, and to promote resilience within the national health system. These measures are required to cope with the intensified demand for health services from refugees and host communities.

The main challenges of the health sector can be summarized as follows:

·       Increased demand for emergency health services, which exceeds the capacity of the public health sector, especially in northern governorates. 

·       Limited emergency health resources for Jordanians and Syrians.

·       Lack of health personnel and medical supplies, mainly in the Emergency units.

The JRP 2017-2019 indicated a requirement of USD 506.4 million for the Health sector. As such, the Jordanian authorities requested assistance and support from the international partners, including the European Union, to support the MoH in addressing the increased demand for emergency health services. Funded by the EU, UNOPS assisted in expanding and equipping three health facilities to provide emergency health care for Syrian refugees in Jordan, namely, Jamil Tutunji Hospital in the Sahab district of Amman, Ramtha Hospital in Irbid, and Ruweished Hospital in Mafraq.

This project is in line with the Madad Fund Overall Objective that seeks “to provide a coherent and reinforced aid response to the Syrian crisis on a regional scale, responding primarily to the needs of refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries, as well as of the communities hosting the refugees and their administrations, in particular as regards resilience and early recovery”, and will contribute to the Specific Objective 4 of the current Result Framework “to increase access to quality and equitable health care for refugees and impacted local populations through direct interventions and through bolstering national systems and capacities” .

This project will contribute to Agenda 2030 and more specifically to SDG 3 to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, and SDG 5 to “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” by providing increased access to healthcare, including reproductive health, and SDG 7 to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To assist the Jordan MoH in improving the health status of Jordanian host communities and Syrian refugees by meeting humanitarian health needs, promoting resilience, and strengthening the national health system and services.

Specific Objective: To increase equitable access, uptake and quality of secondary and tertiary healthcare for Jordanian and Syrian WGBM (Women Girls Boys and Men) in impacted areas.

·       Result 1:

Emergency departments in the three public facilities (Jamil Tutunji Hospital in the Sahab district of Amman, Ramtha Hospital in Irbid, and Ruweished Hospital in Mafraq) are expanded and equipped.

·       Result 2:

MoH is better equipped to provide effective and efficient emergency healthcare services to people requiring emergency treatment and referral services.

The direct beneficiaries of this project are the Syrian refugees and host communities who will benefit from an improved access to emergency health services as follows:

·       Jamil Tutunji Hospital: around 500,000 people will have access to health services, of which

·       70,000 are Syrian refugees.

·       Ramtha Hospital: around 240,000 individuals will have access to health services, of which

·       approximately 70,000 people are Syrian refugees.

·       Ruweished Hospital: around 20,000 people will have access to health services, of which

·       around 8,000 are Syrian refugees.