Palestinian nurse holds free medical campaign in Jerash camp

AMMAN — Palestinian nurse Fatimah Awwad came up with the idea of initiating a free medical campaign targeting Syrian and Palestinian refugees, in addition to underprivileged Jordanians, after a visit she made to the Jerash refugee camp.

Awwad said she visited the camp, 48km north of Amman, three years ago and decided to launch the week-long campaign which concluded on Sunday, in order to help refugees and local communities in the Kingdom. 

“I asked my friends and started working with nurses from Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon to open clinics at this camp,” she told The Jordan Times.  

Awwad explained that the campaign targeted many medical issues, including diabetes and blood pressure-related problems. The teams also checked whether children need medicine and vitamins, in addition to distributing hygiene packets, shoes, clothes, food packages and toys for children. 

More than 1,000 people have benefited from the week-long campaign, according to Awwad. 

Alaa Al Deen, a 33-year doctor who volunteered in the campaign, said their aim was to provide free medical care for refugees and their children. 

“We targeted areas such as Irbid, Zarqa Amman and Jerash,” he added.   

Volunteers worked from 9am until 3pm at the Jerash camp, attending around 150 patients per day in three different clinics inside the camp.