Amman, May 26 (Petra) — Jordan is stepping up its efforts to protect public health from the growing threat of climate change. Throughout May, the Ministry of Health, partnering with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), rolled out a critical series of workshops across Amman, Aqaba, and Irbid. The goal: to equip healthcare professionals to implement Jordan’s new national strategy for climate adaptation, ensuring the health system can withstand and respond to new environmental challenges.

The training brought together key figures from across the health landscape, including Ministry of Health officials, the Royal Medical Services, and private sector providers. These “climate change liaison officers” from the central, southern, and northern regions focused on building a truly resilient health system.

Sessions tackled a range of urgent topics, from preparing for increases in infectious diseases and respiratory issues linked to climate shifts, to developing effective emergency response plans. A key theme was ensuring these plans protect all communities, including vulnerable local populations and migrants.

“Raising public awareness, especially in remote areas and among groups like migrants, women, and children, is crucial,” emphasized Dr. Mahmoud Miqdadi, Public Health Coordinator for the IOM in Jordan. “We must build the capacity of our healthcare workers and ensure strong coordination across all sectors.”

The Ministry is already moving forward with a concrete plan, explained Eng. Ahmad Al-Barmawi, the Ministry’s Director of Environmental Health and its primary Climate Change Liaison Officer.

“We have a roadmap with immediate three-year steps and a longer-term seven-year vision,” Al-Barmawi said. “This involves everything from adapting our healthcare facilities to enhancing our systems for tracking and responding to climate-related health effects. It also means boosting awareness among our staff and working closely with partners in water, environment, and agriculture, as well as the public.”

This initiative is part of a larger project, “Harnessing Synergies between Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction in Migrant-Inclusive Health System Responses,” funded by the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF). It underscores a commitment to building a health system robust enough to safeguard everyone in Jordan, including its migrant populations, from the increasing health risks posed by a changing climate.

//Petra// AA

26/05/2025 12:36:16