COVID-19 pandemic in humanitarian settings: Response preparedness and interventions - phase 2 Supporting vaccine roll-out for NCD patients among refugees and vulnerable host populations in Jordan

Objectives

Between 2020-2021, WDF20-1770 worked to support the national COVID-19 preparedness and response in Jordan, supporting NCD (non-communicable diseases) patients among refugees and vulnerable host populations.

In the second phase, WDF21-1825, Royal Health Awareness Society will continue to target vulnerable groups with NCDs affected by the COVID-19 crisis, with enhanced focus on promoting registration for the COVID-19 vaccine through strengthened risk- and health communications, as well as helping the Ministry of Health (MoH) establish a national NCD registry, medication delivery service, and health teleconsultation system.

The second phase will respond to the increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines created during phase one. It will focus on the supply and roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 'building back better' in the Jordanian context during the health system and services recovery process. The implementation of the project will promote a focus on COVID-19 and NCDs by the public health system in Jordan, especially at the primary health care and community levels, whereby COVID-19 and NCDs are prevented and managed for refugee populations and Jordanians through an integrated national response and COVID-19 vaccine roll-out by the MoH.

Approach

Improve the knowledge, attitudes and practices among refugee populations and Jordanians towards COVID-19 preventive measures, including vaccines
Increase responsiveness of the national health care system and its ability to protect people from the devastating effects of COVID-19 through support of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and establishment of medication delivery system
Support people living with NCDs, specifically older people and refugees, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with access to an integrated health teleconsultation system to ensure continuous provision of virtual and/or remote health services
Improve the capacity of health care providers to provide support to NCD patients, specifically older people and refugees, through training
Enhance the sustainability of the national health response in Jordan by developing a national NCD registry so it can respond effectively to people living with NCDs and complications from NCDs. The NCD registry will function as an important instrument for reaching the target groups with COVID-19 vaccines and ensuring a systematic registration for vaccines for NCD patients

Results at completion

• 178,000 NCD patients data entered by 179 trained young volunteers on the national database within primary health centers, to enhance NCD data management and accessibility to services specially in case of emergencies similar to COVID19.
• 50 journalists received specialized health media and journalism training, producing at least 350 media products mainly related to NCDs and COVID19 to fight infodemics, reaching about 13 million persons through various platforms.
• 29 district level MoH NCD focal points trained to follow up on data base and data entry.
• One primary health center serving a large catchment area of Jordanians and Syrian refugees has been fully automated (within the e-health national system) to enable further digital services such as (appointments and medication delivery) in the future.
• Partial refurbishing and equipping of two operation rooms at one of Jordan’s largest public hospitals to serve Jordanians as well as Syrian refugees living with NCDs.