UNDP and partners set up ER triage tent for the intake during COVID-19 pandemic

The United Nations Development Programme, in partnership with the Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS) and coordination with the Ministry of Health and Al Basheer Hospital, has erected a triage tent in the entrance of Al Basheer Hospital to assist the hospital in dealing with incoming emergency cases.

Al Basheer Public Hospital has been receiving an increased number of cases as Amman’s other major public health facility, Prince Hamzeh Hospital, has been assigned to exclusively treat COVID-19 cases. The tent would help relieve pressure on Al Basheer by taking 800 patients daily who are not infected with the virus but need other medical care. 

UNDP Resident Representative, Sara Ferrer Olivella said Jordan's public health sector has been under intense pressure to deal with testing and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

“This pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis, and it is also a humanitarian and development crisis,” she said, adding “UNDP’s support in partnership with national partners in Jordan seeks to strengthen the health systems, by preventing the spread of the virus.” 

“There are the COVID-19 cases, but there are thousands of other cases that also need care and should not be left behind,” she added. 

Director of Al-Bashir Hospital, Dr. Mahmoud Zureikat said that the establishment of the tent will enhance the hospital’s ability to deal with the large number of patients that come to the emergency room, and will help in classifying sick cases while preventing the spread of infection of all kinds. He added that the tent is manned by the medical and nursing staff of all specialities.

Zureikat praised the initiative to establish and equip this tent by Jordanian Health Aid Society and with support from the UNDP, emphasizing on the importance of government, civil society and UN partnership in responding to immediate challenges.  

The tent, according to President of the Jordan Health Aid Society, Yaroup Ajlouni is “critical in helping us limit the spread of the disease between patients and staff.”

“The main purpose is to decrease overcrowding; so we have set up the triage tent with physical distancing taken into account. We also want to decrease the pressure on the ER Unit at Al Basheer which is receiving 1200-2000 cases that are not Covid19 related” he said.

The tent is now in operation on a 24-hour basis over three shifts with a staff of eight doctors and eight nurses per shift.

Medial crew have been supplied with personal protection gear, long-distance infrared thermometers and other equipment designed to protect both healthcare workers and the patients.

As part of UNDP and partners support, the medical crew received training on the proper use of protective gear.   

“Healthcare professionals are working on the frontlines and we need to make sure they are using protection gear properly to ensure their utmost safety,” Al Ajlouni said.