Big Heart Foundation funds primary care clinic at Jordan's Zaatari Camp

SHARJAH, 10th August, 2016 (WAM) -- The Big Heart Foundation, TBHF, a Sharjah-based humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, is funding a medical clinic at the Zaatari camp in Jordan which when completed, will provide refugees living there 24-hour access to essential healthcare services.

Launched in collaboration with the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and the Jordan Health Aid Society, JHAS in 2014, the initiative is targeting people most in need of healthcare in the Zaatari camp, which is currently housing around 79,000 refugees. The facility will provide medical services for 20,000 individuals, with its Primary Healthcare unit servicing 14,400 beneficiaries, its Reproductive Health unit servicing 3,000 beneficiaries and its Nutrition unit servicing 2,600 beneficiaries. Under the terms of the arrangement, TBHF has committed to fund the overall clinic's operations for six months.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of 'Salam Ya Seghar,' a TBHF initiative said, "The need to provide healthcare facilities in Zaatari camp is a pressing one, as more than 4 years have passed since the camp was established, and maintaining people's health is an important issue. As of July 20th, 2016, the total number of Syrians registered with UNHCR in Jordan reached 637,099 persons, with over 134,051 residing in Zaatari and Azraq camps."

"TBHF believes that basic healthcare should be a fundamental human right but unfortunately it is a right that refugees too often do not have. Adequate medical coverage is particularly important for this section of society as conditions in refugee camps can lead to the spread of diseases, with overcrowding also leading to health concerns. Zataari camp clinic will be a focal point for comprehensive primary, mental, and reproductive healthcare services to its residents on a 24-hour basis," added Al Hammadi.

Toby Harward, Head of UNHCR Abu Dhabi, praised the efforts of TBHF noting, "This generous contribution comes after a series of contributions for healthcare services in Jordan including Zaatari camp. We very much appreciate the on-going support from TBHF, which provides sustainability of much needed services for Syrian refugees in Jordan."

TBHF's funding of the Zaatari camp clinic will see the provision of primary healthcare consultations, family planning, antenatal care, reproductive health education, obstetrics and gynaecology consultations, laboratory tests and specialised health care for chronic conditions to its residents. The facility will provide child growth monitoring, with children aged 6 to 59 months who are identified as malnourished referred for appropriate treatment. There will also be health education given to mothers and caregivers on infant and young child feeding.

In June 2015, H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Wife of H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah launched TBHF to coincide with World Refugee Day. The launch came as a result of the decision issued by Her Highness to transform what was then The Big Heart Campaign into a global humanitarian foundation. The move was aimed at redoubling efforts to help refugees and people in need worldwide, with the new foundation adding significantly to the UAE's rich portfolio and long record of humanitarian initiatives regionally and globally.