QFFD, QRCS, UNHCR and JNRCS collaborate to support health services provided for Syrian refugees in Jordan

Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have successfully completed a collaborative project aimed at enhancing health services for Syrian refugees in Jordan. The Supporting Health Access and Referral Pathways (SHARP) initiative focused on providing specialized, emergency, and life-saving care to patients residing in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps.

The first phase of the project, completed through a partnership between QRCS and the Jordan National Red Crescent Society (JNRCS), centered on dialysis services. Over six months, the initiative facilitated 2,424 dialysis sessions for 36 patients with kidney failure, targeting those in the Zaatari and Azraq camps. This intervention aimed to decrease mortality rates, prevent serious health complications, and ensure ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.

In the second phase, UNHCR supported emergency referrals to Jordan's secondary and tertiary health care system. Over nine months, 136 patients received essential surgeries, including general surgery, pediatric surgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmology, urology, and orthopedic procedures. UNHCR also secured vital emergency healthcare services for 9,022 Syrian refugees, including care for pregnant women, chronic disease management, and reproductive health interventions.

The collaborative effort was put to the test when Khaled and Yasmine, Syrian refugees in the Zaatari camp, experienced severe health challenges with their newborn, Walid. Walid suffered from severe breathing difficulties and seizures, requiring urgent hospitalization outside the camp. Through the referral system supported by UNHCR and financed by QFFD, Walid received the specialized emergency care necessary to stabilize his condition.