Al Bashir Hospital gets new 150-bed emergency ward; ministers tour facility

AMMAN — Minister of Health Saad Jaber and Minister of Public Works and Housing Falah Omoush, accompanied by US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Karen Sasahara on Saturday checked on a new emergency department at Al Bashir Hospital in Amman.

The new 150-bed ward includes two operation theatres, radiology unit, orthopaedic and paediatric departments, an intensive care unit, a sterilisation unit and a number of laboratories supplied with the latest medical and testing equipment, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Jaber as saying during the tour.

The soon-to-be completed facility, “furnished with state-of-the-art equipment and almost 10 times the size of the building it replaces”, will provide high quality care for an estimated 50,000 patients a month at the Kingdom’s busiest public hospital, Petra said.

Omoush thanked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for supporting the project. 

Sasahara said: “The new emergency department is a symbol of the enduring partnership between the United States and Jordan, a partnership that is stronger than ever as both our countries face unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

“The United States is grateful for the personal protective equipment provided by the Government of Jordan to assist us with our COVID-19 response. Jordan’s generous donation of equipment exemplifies the strength of our countries’ friendship and how we support one another,” she added.

Al Bashir Hospital’s new emergency department is part of a joint effort by the governments of the US and Jordan to improve the quality of health services for all people in Jordan, Petra said citing US embassy  statement. 

This project builds on previous support for Al Bashir Hospital, including the renovation of the neonatal intensive care unit and obstetrics and gynaecology units, it said. 

USAID is supporting an accreditation process to implement management policies and procedures that will help the hospital provide high quality care to patients over the longer term, according to the statement.