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AMMAN — A video recently released by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) highlighted the difficulty faced by people with disabilities (PWD) to access healthcare services in Jordan. 

"Following the endorsement of the new law on the rights of people with disabilities in May 2017, we have worked hand in hand with the Greater Amman Municipality to ensure the right of all people to access healthcare services without discrimination," Ghadeer Al Haris, HCD media spokesperson told The Jordan Times, adding "members of our team decided to go to one of Amman's most popular streets in terms of healthcare services — Al Khalidi Street — to film a video assessing the extent to which people with lowered mobility are able to access clinics and healthcare services".

For Aya Aghabi, founder of Accessible Jordan, a website that aims to promote accessibility across the Kingdom, "many people in Jordan take for granted the ease of reaching a doctor, clinic, healthcare provider or hospital whenever they need it".

Enough doctors, too few accessible ones

Despite thousands of doctors graduating from universities every year, accessibility to healthcare services is still highly unequal for patients across the Kingdom. Most online resources do not provide information related to physical accessibility to the building and very few private practices are equipped with wheelchair friendly accommodation such as ramps or elevators.

Acknowledging her luck to live in the capital, where the number and diversity of healthcare providers is "more than sufficient", Aghabi pointed out that "there is still a huge issue in terms of healthcare accessibility". 

After she suffered from a spinal cord injury in 2009 which left her unable to use her legs, Aghabi said her biggest challenge was not to be in a wheelchair but "to reach a doctor in this wheelchair".

"Every time I need medical attention, I have to find doctors based on the accessibility of their clinic or if they can come see me at my house. I do not have the luxury to pick a doctor based on their experience or reputation," she stressed, noting that "many times, my mom has to go see doctors on my behalf and explain to them my medical need without them seeing me in person".

She recalled countless times when she would make an appointment only to find out upon arrival that the building was not accessible.

Danger for PWD's long term healthcare

For Jordanian Lana Bataineh, whose degenerative neurological condition (ALS), left her paralysed from the neck down, one of the biggest frustrations is not her inability to move freely, but rather to be "mostly unable to see a doctor or a dentist when needed". 

"The majority of doctors and dentist clinics here [in Jordan] do not have access for wheelchairs: they either do not have ramps, or their clinics are in buildings with an elevator that is too small for any wheelchair," she explained in a post titled "Wheelchair Inaccessibility" on Loofyonline, noting that "whenever I have my regular check up at the doctors, I am obliged to admit myself into the emergency ward at the hospital instead".

Bataineh said it took her two years to find a dentist that is wheelchair friendly, "which was a big ordeal since regular dental checkups is a necessity for ALS patients".

"Before I go anywhere, I always need to do a site-check ahead of making the trip. I need to check if it is wheelchair accessible, people might think ‘but aren’t there elevators in most buildings?’, well, wheelchairs do not fit in most elevators, which is a minor oversight with building regulations in Jordan," she explained, adding: "if everything is ok, I have to pray I don’t need to use the bathroom as the bathroom stalls are definitely too small to fit wheelchairs."

Efforts 'ongoing' to improve the situation

Following the shooting of the HCD video, specific accessibility issues were pointed out, she said, citing the example of trees on the pavements, which prevent the free circulation of people with reduced mobility.

"We are working to keep people aware of the difficulties PWDs encounter in simple everyday life acts like going to the doctor and we want to push healthcare providers to become accessible as quickly as possible so as to enable every citizen to reach these services whenever they need to," she stressed. 

The HCD official noted that the new law stipulated the need for all healthcare facilities across the Kingdom to become fully accessible according to a specific timeline, whose details can be found on the Council's website, both in Arabic and English.

For Zaid, a dentist whose practice is located at the fourth floor of a private building in Sweyfieh: "It is not a lack of willingness from our part, but it is true that this is not only our first concern."

"We have an elevator in the building, but it often breaks down and it takes days before technicians can come fix it. Meanwhile, it is true that it becomes impossible for our physically impaired patients to access our clinic," the dentist, who preferred to go by his first name, said.

Right, not privilege

"Access to healthcare is a right and not a privilege," stressed Aghabi, adding: "I should be able to go to any doctor I want without having to worry about stairs, if I will be allowed to park in the building’s underground parking so I can access the building or any other barriers that have simple solutions." 

She called on all clinics or medical providers to "be clear about their accessibility and the services they do provide so no one has to go through the trouble I went through and not be able to get the treatment needed". 

For Aisha Shahadeh, trips to the doctor for her son have become "a continuous hassle". "We face challenges in parking, building accessibility, and even doctor's office accessibility. It is usually one or more problems at each visit," she told The Jordan Times, noting that "most secretaries do not even understand exactly what accessibility entails".

She cited other problems including the height of examination beds which are often non adjustable for patients with reduced mobility, preventing them from easily transferring on to them, a remark echoed by Aghabi who pointed out that many women with mobility impairments are often unable to access breast and cervical cancer screening mammography equipment "because they only accommodate women who are able to stand". 

"All people with disabilities have the same healthcare needs as everyone else in society and equally require access to these services," said the founder of AccessibleJordan.com, which is soon scheduled to provide a detailed list of the accessible health facilities in Jordan.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Monday decided to allocate a quota of not less than 35 per cent for Jordanian contactors in the international tenders for projects implemented in the country.

The decision was one of a set of measures the Council of Ministers endorsed on Monday as part of the 2018-2022 Economic Growth Plan, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Cabinet, following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hani Mulki, instructed    ministries, public institutions, companies owned by the government and those it has shares in as well as the private sector to set a quota of no less than 35 per cent for local contractors listed at the Government Tenders Department in tenders floated to foreign contractors. 

Under the decision, the 35 per cent quota is to be increased by five per cent annually during the time frame of the Jordan Economic Growth Plan.  Petra reported.

The Cabinet also stressed the need to accredit the design works and supervision of implementation through Jordanian consultants and oblige foreign advisers to co-work with qualified Jordanian peers to have their work certified by the Government Tenders Department.

The Council of Ministers also gave the go-ahead to six projects in energy and environment, where the quota decided for local contractors ranges between 20-40 per cent, according to Petra.

AMMAN — Minister of Justice Awad Abu Jarad, who is also the chairman of the board of the Jordanian Judicial Institute (JJI), on Monday received a report on JJI’s achievements during the first quarter of 2018, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Abu Jarad said that the report reflects the institute’s response to the directives outlined by His Majesty King Abdullah in the sixth Royal Discussion Paper, which stresses the importance of enhancing judges’ capabilities and providing them with the necessary skills to issue fair and impartial judicial decisions.

The minister also said that the institute has achieved its “hoped effect” by contributing to enhancing the judicial system in fulfilling its various responsibilities.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Alia on Sunday met with Nasredin Hag Elamin, representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Jordan, in the presence of Wafaa Ramadneh, programme officer for the organisation, Zain Shahin and Bandar Assahn from Princess Alia Foundation (PAF), a statement by the FAO said.

HRH introduced the activities and initiatives implemented by PAF to benefit the community and voiced her keenness to collaborate with FAO in continuing the campaign launched in Petra to ensure animal’s treatment and welfare.

FAO agreed on the necessity to develop the initial steps taken for animal welfare and expressed its full support for the next phases of the campaign.

Hag Elamin mentioned plans to conduct joint youth awareness programmes in Petra for animal welfare in collaboration with UNESCO, and announced FAO’s plan to conduct an assessment on the behaviour of animals’ owners and tourists in Petra.

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AMMAN — Jordan is willing and fully prepared to contribute to Iraq’s reconstruction process, Prime Minister Hani Mulki told visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari on Sunday.

At their meeting, the premier said that Jordan “in light of its proximity to Iraq and vast experiences in various fields can carry out the necessary consultations with Iraqis and other Arab stakeholders to contribute effectively in the rebuilding process”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Mulki said that after its victory over terrorists, a fight that Jordan has “staunchly supported”, Iraq has regained its regional role and is back on its feet to boost its economy.

Jaafari, who was accompanied by an official delegation, thanked Jordan for backing his country while at war with terror groups and facilitating the life of Iraqis living in the Kingdom, including allowing these expats to cast their votes in Iraq’s parliamentary elections that will take place later this month. 

He said Jordanian businesses are welcome to invest in Iraq when security and stability are fully restored to the war-torn country. 

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi echoed Mulki’s remarks at a separate meeting with his Iraqi counterpart.

He said Jordan would put all its capabilities at the disposal of its eastern neighbour as it launches the reconstruction process.

He stressed that Jordan realises the importance of Iraq restoring its role as a “cornerstone” of the region’s stability and in serving the common causes of the Arab and Muslim nations. 

He congratulated Jaafari on his country’s victory against the Daesh terror group, stressing that it was a victory of all humanity over the “darkness and delusion” of the terrorists that was achieved by the sacrifices of Iraqis. 

The two ministers stressed the keenness of Jordan and Iraq to take all possible measures to boost cooperation in all fields, Petra said.

They highlighted the progress made to implement agreements signed previously to enhance trade exchange and investments, highlighting the reopening of Turaibil border crossing after a three-year closure blamed on the security situation.

The two diplomats also looked into developments in a number of regional issues including the Palestinian cause, the Syrian crisis and the war against terrorism.

On the Palestinian issue, Safadi and Jaafari agreed that the two-state solution is the only way to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and is key to security and stability in the Middle East.

They also discussed efforts to end the Syrian crisis with a political solution.

Jaafari expressed Iraq’s appreciation for the Jordanian support in fighting terrorism and welcomed Jordan’s prospective role in reconstructing his country, which has been estimated at $200 billion.

The two officials later held a press conference in which they reiterated the two countries’’ willingness to enhance their ties at all levels. 

Safadi told reporters that it is a “matter of time” before the two countries restore the level of cooperation they used to have in the past. 

AMMAN — The 12th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) 2018 starts Monday under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The event represents the biggest defence exhibition focused on special operations and national security in the Middle East and North Africa, SOFEX Director Amer Tabaa said, noting that it showcases all equipment and machinery used by special operations, peacekeeping and security forces, in addition to defence facilities and field training. 

SOFEX offers a global platform for dialogue for countries seeking international peace and security, the director said, noting that the event is held under the direct supervision of HRH Prince Feisal and with the support of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and all security apparatuses.

He pointed out that SOFEX will begin with a conference for the chiefs of special operations forces in the presence of more than 600 participants, including ministers of defence, army chiefs and senior officers of special operations and land and marine forces from the region.

Participants will also include decision makers and developers of strategies related to homeland and global security, Tabaa stated, adding that it will cover a series of comprehensive thematic seminars delivered by top military officials from around the world, tackling a wide range of issues related to counter terrorism and homeland security issues.

More than 350 companies from 35 countries will be participating in the three-day exhibition that His Majesty will inaugurate at the King Abdullah I Airbase in Amman, the director continued.

The 75,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space attracts exhibitors and national pavilions from all corners of the globe, according to sofexjordan.com.

This year’s version will attract 99 official delegations of over 400 members from 53 countries, according to Petra.

SOFEX has been held biannually since its establishment in 1996.

AMMAN — The Cabinet is expected to discuss and set the mandating reasons for a new income tax law before the bill is posted online for people to access and comment on.

During a meeting with the Economic Policies Council (EPC) on Sunday, Prime Minister Hani Mulki said that a copy of the first draft of the law would be forwarded to the legislation committee, which is affiliated with the  EPC, to discuss and give feedback, especially with regard to the aspects of the bill that stipulate tougher penalties for tax evasion, and the others concerning social justice and the proposed ascending tax scale. 

The law, which is expected to trigger a national debate and controversy, is aimed at curbing tax evasion and improve collection mechanisms as one way the government has sought to address economic ailments, besides its 2017 measures to lift subsidies and other corrective measures. 

Local news reports cited leaks suggesting that the new draft law would also lower tax exemption for families from JD24,000 to JD16,000 and for individuals from JD12,000 to JD8,000. 

Mulki said at yesterday’s meeting that “all economic policies of the government adopt a balanced approach to overcome financial challenges and stimulate economic growth”, stressing that legislative changes and updated policies are prerequisites to achieve these goals.    

AMMAN — Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf on Sunday said women who are being imprisoned for their own safety for reasons related to so-called family honour will be moved to a ministry-run guesthouse by the end of the month.

“The women who are at the correctional facilities will start moving gradually to ‘Amneh House’ [safe] or the ‘Guest and Rehabilitation House for Women’ by the end of this month at the latest, if not before,” Lattouf said.

The minister’s remarks were made during a two-day training workshop organised by Mizan Law Group (MLG) for 20 Social Development Ministry female employees, who will be working at the guesthouse.  Another 20 female employees will attend a similar workshop next week, also organised by MLG.  The training is supported by the European Union.

“Our main priority is to ensure the safety and security of these women because they are our responsibility and we need to take good care of them,” Lattouf told the gathering.

The minister added that another priority is building the capacity of the employees who will be managing the house so that “we will start strongly and ensure a comprehensive success and, at the same time, avoid going through any difficulties or obstacles”.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that women whose lives are in danger will end up in the guesthouse instead of being detained at a correctional and rehabilitation facility to protect them,” Lattouf stressed.

Around 35 women are currently in jail for indefinite periods without any charges in what is termed “protective custody” at the Jwaideh Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre, according to officials.

Many women in “protective custody” spend periods  that sometimes exceed ten years. They cannot leave the facility without the administrative governor’s permission, according to activists.

Most of the women in the facilities are kept there for involvement in cases of rape, adultery and incest, where they might be the victims, and for running away from the family’s home voluntarily, according to officials. 

On some occasions, women were reportedly killed after being bailed out by family members, even after guarantees had been signed to inflict no harm on them. Around 20 women are murdered annually for reasons related to cleansing “family honour” in Jordan.

The executive director of MLG, lawyer Eva Abu Halaweh, said she was hopeful that “the new guesthouse will further contribute to reducing the number of honour killings”.

“We have been witnessing a decrease in the reported cases of so-called honour killings and we are hopeful that this house will serve as a safe alternative for any woman whose life is in danger from her own family,” Abu Halaweh told the gathering.

The advocate added that the next step is to hopefully ensure that “any woman whose life is in danger will be transferred to the guesthouse instead of prison”.

“This new guesthouse marks the beginning of the end to protective custody for women and the authorities will hopefully cooperate fully with us to ensure that this becomes a reality,” Abu Halaweh added.

MLG has been working for over a decade to help women who are in protective custody by forming the Coalition to Help Women in Protective Custody in 2005 and later worked on cases of women who were imprisoned for their own safety succeeding in releasing dozens of them. 

Also addressing the trainees, EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana said the “EU is proud to support such training”.

“We welcome the Jordanian government’s effort and decision to provide a safe place for women whose lives are in danger,” Fontana said.

The envoy added that he is also very content “with the EU’s cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and civil society in protecting women and providing them with necessary services”.

Raghda Azzeh, who will be the director of the facility, said the facility consists of furnished independent apartments for the released women to make them “feel at home and not imprisoned”.

“Our aim is to ensure a temporary residency for these women and for them to be independent,” Azzeh stressed, adding that the guests would be fully provided with life necessities such as food and clothing, and will be ensured legal, health and psychological services, as well as vocational training. 

AMMAN — The Jordan Phosphate Mining Company (JPMC) and contractor companies on Sunday signed a settlement deal under which the company restored JD20 million in “graft money”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The agreement, signed at the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC), is related to financial, technical and administrative violations that led to wasting shareholders’ money, according to Petra.

JIACC was quoted by Petra, as announcing it had conducted 44 probes that led to identifying the amount (JD20 million) that was illegally gained by the contractors in the period between 2007 and 2012.

In the first phase, the JIACC came to conclusive results that JD2 million was wasted as a result of corrupt practices by the construction contractors. It immediately referred the entire case to the prosecution department. 

The companies involved offered JD2 million as compensation, however, the JIACC insisted on retrieving the entire wasted amount, the agency said. 

The funds will be paid back by the companies in installments over 36 months, said Petra. 

The mining company has managed to cut down on losses in 2017 by almost 50 per cent to reach JD46.6 million from JD90 million in 2016, JPMC Chairman Mohammad Thneibat said late last month. 

This had been possible, he said, through several measures that the company has taken to deal with a “sharp” decline in the prices of phosphate and its products.