EU, Germany support WHO to enhance Jordan’s National Immunisation Programme

AMMAN — The European Union has committed 43 million euros, through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (MADAD), to support the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) efforts to strengthen Jordan’s primary healthcare services, including expanding access to quality immunisation services for Jordanians and refugees. 

These funds were complemented by the support of the Federal Republic of Germany for strengthening preparedness and response to the health emergencies, according to a statement from WHO.

Through EU support, WHO Jordan procured 34 vehicles, including two refrigerator trucks, 16 pickup trucks and 16 minivans. 

Germany supported the procurement of two minivans, two refrigerator vehicles and 12 sedans. 

The vehicles will be utilised by the National Immunisation Programme at the Ministry of Health to support the transportation of vaccines, delivery of the outreach and mobile immunisation sessions, as well as communication activities to increase uptake of routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccines, the statement said.

On the occasion of the official handing over of the 50 vehicles to the Ministry of Health (MoH), Minister of Health Feras Al Hawari thanked the EU and Germany for the generous donation provided, adding: “We are very grateful to the European Union and the people and the Government of Germany for their continued support in protecting our health care providers and other high-risk groups from COVID-19 through vaccination.”

EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou expressed hope that “these vehicles will facilitate the delivery and access to life-saving vaccines to the whole of the population. For the European Union, supporting the efforts of the Government of Jordan to strengthen Jordan’s health system is an investment to ensuring the goal of Universal Health Coverage, which guarantees equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services for all”.

German Ambassador to Jordan Bernhard Kampmann said: “We are glad our support to WHO could be used for increasing the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Jordan. Germany has been and continues to be a strong partner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the WHO throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that the provision of this equipment will contribute to taking another step towards ending the pandemic in Jordan.”

Jamela Al Raiby, WHO representative to Jordan said: “We are supporting MoH efforts to improve the infrastructure for vaccines’ delivery and use for the most vulnerable populations. We are grateful for the generous support from the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany as it will enable delivery of vaccines to strengthen the response to COVID-19 pandemic.”