Jordan

Healthcare

International Medical Corps provides free and comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services in hospitals, health clinics and emergency rooms—both within and outside the camps. Across Jordan—through our referral service—we support dedicated health teams in numerous medical specialities, including general practice, reproductive healthcare, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, and paediatric, mental health, pharmaceutical and diagnostic services.

We have provided extensive healthcare services at the Azraq camp since it was established in 2014 and now run the camp’s only hospital, providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care, emergency and general medicine interventions. We also run the hospital’s pediatric in-patient department, laboratory and pharmacy, and provide more than 6,500 consultations every month.

We have provided healthcare services at the Zaatari camp since 2018, including primary healthcare, mental health care, emergency and triage services, and ambulatory treatment for cases of moderate and severe acute malnutrition. In 2020, we established a 24/7 emergency room to manage acute medical and surgical emergencies. We remain the sole provider of 24/7 health services in both camps.

To help people inside and outside the camps access treatment, we work with a network of public and private hospitals to manage emergency, urgent, non-acute and elective referrals. Our advanced health informatics systems increase the efficiency of service delivery. This includes the Pharmaceutical Information Management System (PIMS), inventory management and supply-chain software developed by International Medical Corps for use in remote and low-resource settings. We also leverage continuity-of-care software that manages patient processing across all healthcare service levels.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

The psychological toll of the Syrian war on refugees has been immense. Forced from their homes, many have experienced extreme levels of violence, fear and loss. In Jordan, they face a multitude of psychosocial stressors, including the pressure to restart life in a new country—uncertain when, or even if, they will return home.

We are the country’s largest provider of MHPSS services after the Ministry of Health (MoH), and we co-chair the national MHPSS Working Group. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to the population and building the country’s capacity through our training, advocacy and research efforts.

We deliver comprehensive MHPSS services at four clinics inside Azraq and Zaatari camps, where we lead the MHPSS programs. Our multidisciplinary teams include psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, pharmacists and case managers. Through a case management approach, we provide specialised MHPSS services to more than 2,000 people each year, including psychiatric consultations, psychotherapy, psychoeducation and home visits. We train staff to provide holistic care that is integrated with such programmes as child protection. We also provide caregiver training to families of children with developmental delays or disabilities.

We advocate for the integration of mental health care into the primary healthcare, education and social protection sectors. We train MoH staff and other primary healthcare providers on MHPSS topics. By providing training and capacity-building services to a range of stakeholders, and by partnering with local universities to provide internship and training opportunities, we increase access to MHPSS services while reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

We have also developed RELAX, a free mobile app to make MHPSS services available online. First launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to in-person MHPSS services became restricted, the RELAX app continues to provide flexible support to people who need it.

Child Protection (CP) and Youth Empowerment

International Medical Corps is a leading specialised provider of comprehensive CP case management in Jordan. We manage the most complex CP concerns, safeguarding the well-being of children at risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We also manage cases of separated and unaccompanied children, child marriage and child labour.

After identifying children who are at risk of emotional distress due to these CP concerns, we deliver a range of psychosocial support, including individual or group sessions and structured or unstructured activities. Our psychosocial support also targets children’s families, helping caregivers provide a healthier environment for children.

Through our Youth Empowerment Program, we engage under-18s in psychosocial support activities, helping them build the skills and knowledge they need to develop community-driven projects that promote social cohesion.

Our efforts to build local CP capacity include training partner NGOs, governmental stakeholders and local community-based organisations on case management and other related CP topics. As an active member of the Child Protection Information Management System—and former administrator and co-chair of its steering committee—our CP team has led efforts to ensure high-quality service delivery. We play a key role in coordination and collaboration by co-chairing a sub-working group and participating in various working groups and task forces.

Nutrition

International Medical Corps remains the primary agency implementing nutrition programmes in Zaatari refugee camp. Our comprehensive nutrition programme encompasses two key components: a supplementary and therapeutic feeding programme, which closely follows guidelines for integrated management of acute malnutrition, and an infant and young-child feeding programme, which operates in line with the global standards set by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.