Jordan Times
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Experts discuss national
health strategy
By Reem Halasa
AMMAN — Health experts met this week for the third time this year to set the
guidelines for a national health communication strategy to promote a healthy
society.
The strategy is a 5-year plan designed to integrate and coordinate all the
relevant bodies working in this sector, including private and public
institutions.
The initiative focuses on three main health components: A healthy lifestyle,
childhood health and reproductive health and family planning.
Earlier in July, experts representing government institutions, ministries and
nongovernmental organisations formulated a list of priorities they believed
should be addressed through the strategy; including smoking, diabetes,
inactivity, hypertension, breastfeeding, obesity, breast cancer, anemia and
others.
In yesterday's meeting, health experts decided to compare their findings with
the main health issues affecting local communities.
“At this point we want to conduct a field study with the help of our partners
and see if the priorities we set are compatible with people's issues and needs,”
explained Suleiman Farah, resident adviser at the Johns Hopkins University.
The field study will include one on one interviews, group discussions and
questionnaires. It will also aid experts in putting together a large-scale
nationwide survey, which will form the basis for the national strategy.
“Our aim is to give local communities the health education, skills and resources
they need to react to health challenges in a proper way,” Farah said.
The strategy is supported by the Johns Hopkins University, funded by the US
Agency for International Development, and coordinated by the Ministry of Health.