March 25, 2022 - Dr. Diene Keita, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director/Programme arrived in Jordan on a six-day official visit on 18 March 2022. During her visit, Dr. Keita met with high-level officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth. She also convened with Ms. Enshrah Ahmed, Head of UNFPA-Jordan, and with Yemen and Syria Hubs representatives, as well as the RCO in Jordan. JCO personnel had a luncheon with Dr. Keita where they exchanged thoughts on prospective programmes in Jordan.
Dr. Keita also met with UNFPA partner, Jordanian Women's Union (JWU), and was briefed about the services provided to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). She conducted a field visit to Zaatari Refugee Camp for Syrian Refugees where she met with other UN sister agencies and was briefed on the coordination and services provided at the camp by UNFPA partners.
During her visit to Zaatari camp, Dr. Keita toured the facilities of UNFPA Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) clinic. She met with the medical staff and was briefed on the unique services provided to Syrian women and girls by UNFPA’s implementing partner, Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS).
Since its inception in August 2013, the SRH clinic has provided 14,666 safe deliveries with zero maternal newborn deaths. The clinic provides comprehensive quality SRH services through four well-established SRH clinics, including the sole maternity clinic in the camp, active through a 24/7 modality. 100% of the deliveries are attended by skilled-trained health providers including obstetricians, pediatricians and midwives.
The clinic provides SRH services to around 3,000 beneficiaries every month. An average of 6-8 safe deliveries are performed every month and 1-2 women are referred for C/S/Day to referral hospitals outside the camp.
Dr. Keita also visited the Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) in Zaatari camp, which is managed by UNFPA’s implementing partner, Institute of Family Health (IFH). The Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) provides non-stigmatizing GBV response and prevention services for women and girls living inside Zaatari camp, where they can access services, such as, case management, referrals, psychosocial support, awareness raising, counseling, life-skills sessions and empowerment activities.
Dr. Keita’s last stop during her visit to Zaatari camp was the “Space for Change”, a youth-led center with a full-fledged space to host recreational and art sessions in Zaatari camp. Dr. Keita met with youth volunteers and beneficiaries to discuss strategies that would empower youth in the camp to improve their communities.
EU Humanitarian Aid is the kind donor that supports the Reproductive Health Clinic as well as the Women & Girls Safe Space in Zaatari Camp.
The Youth center is generously supported by the French embassy and aims at ensuring that marginalized youths are not left behind.
