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The WHO
collaborative programme
HEALTH OF SPECIAL GROUPS: SCHOOL HEALTH, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND ELDERLY HEALTH
SCHOOL HEALTH
Situation analysis
Although school children are among the most vulnerable groups in the community, they were not the focus of attention for a long period. Improving school health is an indirect way in improving community health and school children are the most effective media in the spread of health messages.
The full potential of school health services has not been realized in Jordan.
WHO's role will be to assist in strengthening the existing school health services, promote collaboration between the health and education sectors, promote health, nutrition and physical activity topics in school health curricula, support in developing and implementing a health monitoring system and a health education programme.
Main achievements
Various categories of health and education personnel from the Government have received training in different aspects of school health including the development of national school health curriculum. Over the years many health personnel received training in primary health care including school health and are in a position to strengthen the existing school health services in the schools Jordan. A number of training guidelines and documents have been developed and WHO has assisted with supplies and equipment.
Main constraints
Inadequate multisectoral joint work. School health is a subject which needs close collaboration between several sectors, particularly the Health and Education sectors. School health curricula need to be reviewed and updated.
Objectives
· To promote health status of students.
· To develop adequate school health services.
· To insure healthy school environment through protection and promotion of healthy life style.
· To empower the school child with essential health messages as a tool in the provision of health and the eradication of harmful traditional practices.
Priority areas
· National plan and strategy on school health
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Indicators
· Documented national strategy and plan of action on school health
· Number of specialized personnel in school health/10000 students.
· Number of personnel trained in school health pr annum.
· Number of health promoting and/or community oriented schools
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Situation analysis
The occupational health programme in the Ministry of health is active since 1981 as a branch of environmental health. In 1993, this branch was developed to be a department of occupational health within the health safety directorate. In 1999 a new directorate for occupational health was created, including two divisions: Occupational medicine and occupational hygiene.
Available statistical data on morbidity and mortality from disease and accidents attributed to working conditions in the country are not adequate and probably underestimate the problem. Information on specialized health personnel rendering services to workers in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, mines and small-scale factories is incomplete.
WHO's role will be to support the national authority to undertake situation analysis in order to obtain reliable information on the morbidity and mortality patterns of workers in different categories at organized and unorganized work sites, assist in the development of a national plan on occupational health, support the training of workers in various aspects of occupational health, promote appropriate measures to improve the status of workers health and organize inter-country meetings and consultations to exchange information and experiences in occupational health.
Main achievements
Collaboration during the biennium 2000-2001 was centered on human resources training which aims at capacity development through conducting several training courses, workshops and fellowships. Field visits were organized to many industrial plants to check occupational hazards and problems. A special effort was exerted to strengthen laboratory activities, to participate in many committees to develop work legislation. Some primary and periodic examinations were also organized to various groups of workers.
Main constraints
· Insufficient number of adequately trained health personnel in occupational health and work safety and lack of resources - both technical and financial. The available occupational health information system needs to be strengthened to effectively contribute to programme development at the national level.
Priority areas
· Development of a naional strategy and plan on Occupation Health
- Strengthening Occupational health services to the industrial areas, especially in Amman, Ramtha and Zarqa.
Objectives
· To ensure universal access to adequate occupational health services through primary health care system for workers from all categories of work.
· To reduce avoidable occupational disabilities through appropriate preventive and rehabilitative measures.
· To enable universal access into safe and healthy environment and work conditions.
· To enable working people to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and healthy behaviour.
Indicators
1. Documented national occupational health strategy and plan of action.
2. Number of functional occupational health units within the national health care systems including primary health care system.
3. Number of occupational diseases reported per annum to the occupational health surveillance system
4. Number of the risk factors and situations reported per annum to the occupational health surveillance system
5. Number of occupational health personnel trained per annum
6. Number of occupational health personnel available in the country:
- Number of health and safety inspectors/10,000 workers, by industry
- Number of occupational hygienists with occupational hygiene qualifications/10,000 workers, by province (governorate).
- Number of occupational health physicians/10,000 workers, by province (governorate).
- Number of occupational health nurses/10,000 by province (governorate)
HEALTH FOR THE ELDERLY
Situation analysis
The Ministry of Health in Jordan provides a variety of preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to the elderly through its health care centres and hospitals available in all governerates. Even though these services have not been specifically classified under specific headings related to the elderly, it is widely believed that the elderly need the best care in health, social, psychological, rehabilitative and nutritional fields.
The preventive health services focus on monitoring nursing homes and societies providing care for the elderly, carried out by physicians, nurses and health inspectors to ensure the safety of drinking water, food and the environment and other health requirements in addition to licensing and inspecting them.
The curative and rehabilitative services include diagnostic, treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation. In addition to providing hearing, visual and walking aids within the available resources of the Ministry, whereby 75% discount is given to those persons who cannot afford these aids, and free diagnostic, curative and surgical procedures for those carrying the green card. If services are not available in the Ministry of Health then the patients are referred to other hospitals: Jordan University Hospital and the Royal Medical Services.
WHO will continue its active support of the national programme, to ensure that the health care activities for the elderly are integrated with the country's primary health care programme, focus on creating mass awareness of the needs of the elderly among governments, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the community leaders and assist the government in organizing training opportunities for appropriate staff.
Main constraints
· Existing information available on the health and social needs of the elderly population is insufficient.
· Lack of resources financial technical and human.
Priority areas
1. Training community health workers to provide health care to the elderly.
2. Integration of elderly health care into the national primary health care programme.
3. Promotion of physical activity programme for the elderly population.
4. Empowerment of families and communities caring for their older persons.
5. Development of Information system on the social and health conditions of the elderly population.
Objectives
1. To establish a unit within the Ministry of Health, responsible for coordinating the health care services for the elderly.
2. To establish a committee to coordinate activities and services for the elderly in Jordan, and adopting a clear-cut administrative policy to provide coordinated supports to the elderly population.
3. To strengthen primary health care with training in the health care needs of the elderly.
4. To develop a comprehensive national policy for the welfare of the ageing population in terms of health insurance coverage and retirement plans including supporting families who are caring for the elderly in the community.
Indicators
1. Documented national strategy and plan of action on the health of elderly.
2. Number of units/centers, which offer outreach and home care services for older persons.
3. Number of health personnel specialized in gerontology and geriatric medicine in the country.
4. Number of trained individuals per annum in providing social and health care for the older persons
5. Number of Non-governmental organizations, providing social and health care for the older persons.
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