UNRWA in Jordan delivers essential medicines to Palestine refugees in camps

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan medical staff, consisting of doctors, pharmacists and nurses have started delivering medicines for refugee populations in need. First round of distribution will take approximately 2 weeks and first round of patients targeted are people with diabetes, hyper tension who rely on insulin, patients with chronic diseases and pregnant women who have diabetes whose medications were due between March 21st and March 31st 2020.

This initiative is one of the precautionary measures to protect life and health of Palestine refugee populations by delivering essential medicines to those in need, especially in light with the current circumstances and the ongoing imposed curfew.

During the past six days, 11,394 patients’ houses received their Non Communicable Disease medicines. Only 60 UNRWA staff members with the support of the local community voluntary groups are making this happen during this challenging time facing the world and UNRWA will carry on the distribution to all other camps.

The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan, Mr. Mohammed Adar said “We deeply thank the Government of Jordan for its continued support to Palestine refugees and UNRWA, and we particularly acknowledge the Director General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs, Eng Rafiq Khirfan, for his invaluable cooperation and assistance provided to the Agency to obtain the necessary permits for our staff to continue our operations. We are making every effort to deliver the medicines to refugee populations in-need in the most speedy manner at all camps”.

UNRWA health Centres however; are still closed due to the imposed curfew. The medicine delivery is being coordinated with the local authorities in each camp and the medicines will be delivered to the patients’ houses. The Local community in the camps have been a great help to our medical staff in the distribution of medications to reach out to those in need more efficiently.

Moreover, UNRWA has been discussing with the government of Jordan about when will be the best time to reopen the Health Centers and re-start providing vital health services at 25 Health Centres while ensuring to control the gathering of people.

UNRWA keeps emphasizing that refugees are strongly requested to stay home and respect social distancing to protect their health, their families’ health as well as their community.

Under the current circumstances, UNRWA health department advises refugee pregnant women who are due to give birth to approach the Ministry of Health hospitals and submit their claim for reimbursement to the Area Health Office or Camp Services Office when the situation is safe.

As for the periodic children vaccines, they are to be rescheduled after the curfew without any harm to the child’s health. The Agency is establishing a hotline at the Health Centre for inquires and emergencies. It will be announced as soon as it is ready.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, UNRWA has offered health awareness sessions for refugees and thorough training for its medical and educational staff in the health centers and at the schools, both inside and outside the camps. Environmental health activities such as cleaning and sanitizing all 10 camps continues extensively since the crisis happened.

Furthermore, our medical officers are equipped with knowledge of the WHO-adopted case definition to classify the cases, should that be the necessity. In case of any suspected cases, patients will be referred to the designated hospitals according to the government regulations for the needed examination and quarantine.

UNRWA COVID-19 Web Page: www.UNRWA.org/Covid_1