Jordan and the World celebrate World Health Day today Wednesday, which happens to be on the 7th of April of every year. This year the World commemorates World Health Day under the slogan “Together for a fairer, healthier world”, and which shines the light on equitable access to healthcare services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The pandemic has clearly shown how some people can lead a healthier life and gain access to better healthcare than others. This goes back to the conditions that they are born into, live in as well as work and grow old in. This is also in addition to how some groups fight to cover their expenses with little daily income and with bad living and educational conditions as well as less job opportunities. These groups also suffer from more inequality between the sexes and have less safe environments, clean water, air, food security and healthcare services. This causes unnecessary suffering that can be avoided and early death, which is unfair and stoppable.
The celebration this year comes to emphasize the importance of taking actions to eliminate health disparities as part of a global campaign to bring people together to build a fairer and healthier world.
The Secretary General of the Higher Population Council, Abla Amawi affirmed in a press release special to this occasion that the Council attaches special importance to this occasion. This is because the effect of the coronavirus was the harshest on weaker population groups and those that are more at risk of infection, as well as those less likely to gain access to high quality healthcare services and most likely to experience disastrous consequences as a result of the measures taken to contain this pandemic. She explained that for this reason, we call for a guarantee for all individuals to enjoy living conditions and work that aids in enjoying good health and addressing health disparities, as well as ensuring that all people are able to access good healthcare services whenever needed.
Amawi also affirmed that the size of the burden and the danger on the Jordanian healthcare system is bigger if we took into account the effect of the virus on certain population groups whose protection needs to be strengthened, especially the elderly and individuals who suffer from chronic illnesses, as well as maternal and baby health. Statistics indicate that the age group between (75-84) years old recorded the highest mortality rate due to the virus since the pandemic started at 27.8%. The age group (65-74) recorded a mortality rate of 25.4% and the age group (55-64) recorded a mortality rate of 22% of the total mortality rate due to the virus. The mortality rate of those over 85 years old was 8.5% of the total mortality rate, for a total mortality rate of 83.5% for those over 55 years old due to the virus.
She also indicated that the coronavirus pandemic represents a challenge for healthcare systems all around the world, as it affects all age groups and specifically older persons. She stated that the rate of infection in Jordan for those over 75 years old is (10.6k) for every 100,000 people, followed by the age group (55-64) at a rate of (8.3k) for every 100,000 people. This is followed by the (25-43) age group at a rate of (7.3k) for every 100,000 people. The lowest rate of infection goes to those under the age of 5 years old at a rate of (0.5k) for every 100,000 people. Meanwhile, confirmed cases are higher among males than females as the rate of infection for males is 51% compared to 49% for females, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health released on 29 March 2021.
The Higher Population Council indicated that healing from this pandemic is going to lead to a world more equal and more capable of coping with future crises. The Council also indicated the necessity for all national responses – if they’re to achieve the necessary effects – to focus on women and girls by integrating and representing them and their rights, as well as achieving social and economic results that benefit them and ensuring equality and protection for them. This does not relate to only correcting long-standing inequalities, but also by building a world more equal and capable of coping as this does not only benefit women and girls but also boys and men.
