Border hospital gets obstetric supplies from UNFPA

The Al-Ruwayshid Hospital, located in eastern Jordan near the border with Iraq, on Wednesday received a shipment of emergency medical equipment, supplies and medications that would further prepare it to treat people who may be displaced as a result of the conflict in Iraq, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) told IRIN in the Jordanian capital, Amman. "This is part of our contingency planning for the entire region, particularly in Iran, Jordan, Syria, where we have been working with the national governments to set up clinics for refugees," an agency spokesman, Omar Gharzeddine, said on Thursday, noting, however, that there had been very few refugees thus far. According to an agency statement, the supplies contributed by UNFPA are particularly intended to boost the hospital's ability to assist pregnant women and to save the lives of mothers and their babies. The government-run hospital at Al-Ruwayshid has been designated as the referral facility for persons in need of immediate medical attention. "The UNFPA supplies will go a long way in helping the hospital undertake this role, if needed," the statement read. The supplies consist of seven reproductive health emergency kits. The contents of the kits suffice to equip two delivery rooms with items such as safe delivery kits and emergency obstetric care equipment, including caesarian section. The kits also include supplies needed for blood transfusion and HIV testing, in addition to medicines for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other medications. "This is just a part of our support to the Jordanian government's preparedness for any potential refugee situation," said Seifeldin Abarro, the UNFPA representative in Jordan, during Wednesday's delivery of the kits. "We are in constant contact with the Ministry of Health, and we are fully ready to further support it in addressing the reproductive health needs of displaced persons." UNFPA noted that it had trained a number of Jordanian medical personnel on the use of the emergency medical kits and on addressing reproductive health needs in refugee situations. It said more kits would soon be delivered to other nearby hospitals. Gharzeddine added that UNFPA would be seeking additional funds for its efforts throughout the region in the upcoming UN consolidated appeal.