The Jordan Health Communication Partnership (JHCP) a USAID funded project administered by John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP) recently launched a national campaign for family planning with the slogan “My Life is More Beautiful” (Hayati Ahla) in Al Zarqa Governorate, under the patronage of His Excellency, Minister of Interior, Mr. Nayef Al Qadi. The launching ceremony was held at King Abdulla Cultural Canter in Al Zarqa in the presence of the Governorate stakeholders and officials from the public and private sectors.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) and cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Interior, represented by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Mr. Nayef Al Qadi, and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public, represented by Amrita Gill-Bailey Team Leader, Near East Division and JHCP Acting Chief of Party and witnessed by USAID Mission Director Mr. Jay Knott. The MOU aims to enhance cooperation and coordination between the parties in local and regional development areas and build institutional capacities through the implementation of communication programs and projects to build a more health competent Jordan.
JHCP conducts national comprehensive health communication campaign together with partners from the public and private sector. This 7 year project which began in 2004 includes behaviour change communication activities under the national slogan “Our Health is our Responsibility”. The activities aim to promote health by empowering individuals, families, communities, and institutions with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve and sustain health in Jordan.
The Hayati Ahla national campaign is designed to raise awareness regarding health issues at different life stages including engagement, newly married and couples with one or two children based on the idea that individuals seek particular health information according to their needs. This approach is aims to create a positive social orientation towards building healthy families. Couples with newborns are provided information on caring for their child as well as information on family planning and allowing for an interval of at least 3 years between pregnancies to allow for optimal health of both mother and child.
JHCP works together with the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Local Development Directorate, Al Zarqa Governorate, and the Ministry of Health, represented by Al Zarqa Health Directorate, Mother and Child Health, Higher Population Council to implement communication programs and activities under the “My Life is Beautiful” campaign in Al Zarqa governorate.
Campaign activities include: “Arab Women Speak Out”, executed by 40 societies from Al Zarqa Governorate, the Communication Campaign for the providers of pregnancy and family planning services in 45 health centers in Al Zarqa, and in the Civil Services and Passports Department, as well as the scholars’ project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Endowments represented by the Endowments Directorates of Al Zarqa and Rseifeh. Campaign activities in Zarqa involve school children through the Health Competent Schools Initiative held in 10 schools.
Head of Local Development Directorate/ Ministry of Health, Dr. Ra’ed Odwan, declared: “Our role, as a development institution, is to coordinate and cooperate to building institutional capacities, promote the bonds of partnership, and consolidate efforts to realize the goal set for this national campaign: creating a healthy proficient Jordanian society”.
This initiative in Al Zarqa governorate has been planned to be an “action learning experience” whereby lessons learnt will be utilized to roll out more successful activities nationwide. Governor of Al Zarqa, Dr. Sa’ad Al Wadi Al Manaseer complemented JHCP for its success stories explaining that, “Al Zarqa governorate is renowned for its distinctive demographic diversity that allows for a tangible and positive impact among its population. This program aims to improve the citizens’ quality of life and move them to create a social norm towards a small healthy family is of paramount importance.
Plans have been drawn for the follow up and evaluation purposes on the governorate’s level, and in cooperation with the partners to strengthen Al Zarqa action learning initiative, and to move it to other governorates in a clear scientific form.
