The Ministry of Health and the Jordan Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted an event to mark the completion of a project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) that aimed to strengthen the Kingdom’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems by enhancing national laboratory capacities and the workforce.
National partners and stakeholders in the fight against AMR came together for this event to celebrate the successes of their collaborative efforts in Jordan.
WHO has declared AMR to be one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity, and has warned that antimicrobial misuse and overuse are the primary drivers of the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
KOICA has made a significant investment in Jordan’s national response to antimicrobial resistance development and strengthening. KOICA has contributed to the development of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) in four countries, including Jordan, by establishing and strengthening national AMR Reference Laboratory (NRL) capacities in collaboration with WHO.
In spite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and KOICA have continued to mobilize national efforts towards achieving the project’s objectives.
Currently, surveillance sites representing public, private, and teaching hospitals throughout Jordan are reporting AMR data to GLASS.
Secretary General of Primary Health Care and Epidemics, Raid Shboul, acknowledged the efforts made thus far in combating AMR in Jordan and KOICA’s generous support, stating, “With WHO’s technical support and thanks to KOICA’s funding, national surveillance data is contributing to the development of evidence-based policy for the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.”
Lee Jae-wan, the Republic of Korea’s ambassador to Jordan, stated “Healthcare has been a key sector in the Korean government’s partnership with Jordan, with Korea contributing to the establishment of 7 healthcare centers, the rehabilitation of a blood bank, and the distribution of electronic prosthetic hands to disadvantaged persons in Jordan since 2004. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Jordan, and I am pleased to see that this project has successfully contributed to Jordan’s capacity to combat antimicrobial resistance.”
KOICA Country Director, Dongsung Seo said: “I’m glad that Jordan became the first country in this region which develops a National Infection Prevention and Control Program by virtue of this project supported by the ‘Global Disease Eradication Fund’ which is charged for every international flight ticket departing from Korea. And I believe that Jordan can transfer and disseminate valuable knowledge and skills they have obtained to this region and beyond”.
During the event, WHO Representative to Jordan, Jamela Al-Raiby said: “WHO will continue supporting the AMR national multi-sectoral stakeholders to implement and monitor the progress of Antimicrobial Resistance national action plan using one-health approach”.
She said the organization grateful for the generous support provided by KOICA and the leadership of the Government of Jordan.
Source: Jordan News Agency