Life Support Programmes Training Centre renovated with support from Spain, USAID

 AMMAN — The Life Support Programmes Training Centre, an initiative of the Ministry of Health, with facilities in Amman, Irbid and Karak, have been renovated and equipped with funding from the Spanish government and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The centre offers basic and advanced life support training and is certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) to offer the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) provider course, a critical care training and certification programme designed to immediately save the lives of people who suffer medical emergencies, according to statement made available to The Jordan Times.

The centre is supervised by the Medical Education and Training Directorate at the Ministry of Health. With support from USAID and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), the centre now has seven AHA ACLS-certified instructors, who have trained 152 Ministry of Health professionals on advanced life-saving procedures. The target of the centre is to provide high-quality training to all 25,000 medical staff working at a hospital in Jordan. 

Minister of Health Feras Al Hawari said: "We are constantly working to advance healthcare services provided to citizens through continuous education, especially in emergency and ICU wards. The COVID-19 health crisis has unveiled major needs for the sector. We are continuously improving to ensure that the Ministry of Health responds to these needs while building our capacity to provide expert services to citizens." 

Hawari said that this certification is a significant stride in the ministry's commitment to continuously improving Jordan's healthcare practitioners’ skills.

The Life Support Programmes Training Centre was established in 2021, with support from USAID, as part of the US’ long-time assistance to the healthcare sector in Jordan. 

The USAID-funded Local Health Sustainability Project has provided the centre with special ACLS and basic life support training tools, mannequins and training materials. The project has also trained hundreds of healthcare professionals on basic life support skills.  

USAID Deputy Mission Director Emily Krunic said: ”Building the capacity of health workers in Jordan is fundamental to advancing health services and protecting lives across the Kingdom. USAID and Jordan share a longstanding partnership to strengthen the country’s health system and enhance the quality of healthcare services." 

The training centre has also received significant support through a Government-to-Government grant from the AECID to the Ministry of Health, to provide the needed equipment and improve the physical conditions of the Life Support Programmes Training Centre in Amman and Irbid. 

Spanish Ambassador to Jordan, Miguel de Lucas, said: "Spain as a close and committed partner to Jordan firmly believes that working together with the Government of Jordan is the best way forward to progress on Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening public services for all. Spain is supporting the improvement of the health of Jordanians and refugees by strengthening Jordan's public health system through Government-to-Government financial support to the Ministry of Health, strengthening its capacities and promoting deconcentration in the management and delivery of basic healthcare in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage.”