The European Union and the World Health Organization signed an agreement to “enhance primary healthcare services for Syrian refugees in Jordan,” with the EU allocating €15 million to support WHO’s efforts in the kingdom.
This support is part of a project titled “Enhancing Access to High-Quality Primary Health Care for Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Jordan.”
In this context, Jordan’s Minister of Health, Firas Al-Hawari, during the signing of the agreement, stated, “The efforts of the European Union and the World Health Organization will contribute to assisting the government in preparing primary healthcare centers, directly supporting its plan towards achieving universal health coverage.”
He added, “By improving the skills of healthcare workers, supporting infrastructure and strengthening the health information system, and providing medical supplies in selected facilities, we will be able to meet the health standards to offer distinguished health services, increase utilization rates, and expand the number of beneficiaries from primary health care services in Jordan.”
The Minister of Health appreciated “the organization and the union’s support for Jordan’s health priorities.”
On his part, the Director of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Jordan, Patrick Lambrecht, said, “Now, more than ever, it is important that we support Jordan’s commitment to enhancing primary healthcare and health systems, ensuring access to high-quality health services for all individuals across the kingdom, and achieving sustainable universal health coverage and health-related sustainable development goals can only be realized through steadfast dedication to enhancing primary healthcare.”
Meanwhile, the WHO representative in Jordan, Jamila Raebi, noted, “Primary healthcare is fundamental to achieving universal health coverage and health-related sustainable development goals, and through this project, the organization supports the implementation of approved primary healthcare models to enhance the integration of health services and improve the quality of care, increasing access to primary healthcare for refugees, especially Syrians, and their host communities.”
According to Jordanian media, “This four-year program funded by the European Union, through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument in response to the Syrian crisis, supports the key measures of the Ministry of Health’s strategic plan derived from the kingdom’s economic modernization vision.”