Japan, UNOPS continue support to Jordan health sector

AMMAN — Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan Hidenao Yanagi and Director of UNOPS Hub in Amman Usman Akram on Tuesday visited the King Hussein Medical Centre and met with Director of the Royal Medical Services (RMS) Maj. Gen. Shawkat Tamimi.

The visit comes within the framework of the latest UNOPS project, funded by Japan and aimed at supporting the RMS of the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), a joint statement said.

The King Hussein Medical Centre is a beneficiary of the “strong partnership in Jordan between UNOPS and the government of Japan”, the statement said.

With its extensive health services network through hospitals, medical centres and mobile field clinics, the RMS is currently serving 38 per cent of the Jordanian population, including both military and civilian, the statement said.

The increasing demand for health services as a result of Jordan’s population growth and the influx of the Syrian refugees has led to a shortage of medical consumables and equipment as well as over-utilisation of health facilities, read the statement. 

This project, valued at $3.5 million will rehabilitate, equip and furnish the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the King Hussein Medical Centre and the RMS warehouse compounds. 

It is expected that approximately 330,000 Jordanians and Syrian refugees will benefit from improved health services at the King Hussein Medical Centre, according to the statement. 

For his part, Maj. Gen. Tamimi, expressed the RMS’ gratitude for the assistance received. 

“We at the RMS are very proud of this recognition from the Japanese government, and would like to take this opportunity to express our highest respect and gratitude to the government and people of Japan,” Tamimi said. 

“We are always trying to sustain and improve our capabilities and services, and to that end, we welcome and appreciate any support we receive from our friends,” he added

The envoy said: “Japan acknowledges that the JAF, including the RMS, has enormously contributed to essential medical support to Syrian refugees to ensure their basic needs at the borders and in the field.”

“Japan highly values the generosity and readiness of the government and the people of Jordan. We sincerely hope that our assistance will contribute to enhancing the capacity of the RMS,” Yanagi said.

UNOPS’ Akram commended the continued partnership with the government of Jordan and appreciated the generous contribution from the government and the people of Japan. 

"UNOPS will use its expertise in infrastructure and procurement to support the RMS in improving the delivery of health services," he said.

"The rehabilitation, equipping and furnishing of the obstetrics and gynaecology facilities, procurement of ambulances and the rehabilitation of the warehouse compounds, will enable the King Hussein Medical Centre to offer quality health services to both Jordanians and Syrian refugees," he noted.