Amman, April 25th 2018 - Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) will organize a ceremony to inaugurate a new social and recreational area built at MSF reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan. The project has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from Mr. Fehmi Hannachi, who will be visiting the hospital in late April. The area is designed to provide a safe and easily accessible recreational and social activity space for men, women and children who have been admitted to the hospital.
“We believe this space will both improve the patients’ physical safety and expand the holistic care MSF strives to provide to our war-wounded patients from across the Middle East,” says Anneliese Coury, deputy Head of Mission in Jordan.
The area has been built in coordination with the physiotherapy and the psychosocial department as well as the patients themselves, through group discussions about their expectations. The space includes a playground and a classroom for the child patients. There is a private space dedicated to women who prefer having their own space and a bigger common social area accessible to all patients to gather. This area will be used for physiotherapy exercises and occupational activities (games, gardening...). Educational and recreational activities will be performed for children who represent 20% of our patients taking into account physical ability/disabilities, differences in gender, age and origin.
“The creation of the social and recreational area is a great opportunity for us to launch a new dynamic within the hospital which should help us improve the quality of our services for the benefit of our patients. Having this outdoor area is a crucial improvement in the quality of their stays,” says Coury.
The inauguration ceremony of the new area will take place On April 30th 2018 at 2 pm in the afternoon, in presence of the donor and MSF representatives in Jordan. Including a show by the International Red Noses and a local artist who will work on wall paintings in order to enhance the aesthetics of the area, the ceremony will allow the hospital patients to take part in the opening of the area with the purpose of providing them with an outdoor area for socializing and recreational activities.
The Reconstructive Surgery Program (RSP) was established in 2006 to offer orthopaedic, maxillofacial and plastic surgery, as well as physiotherapy and psychosocial support to victims of war and violence from Middle Eastern countries. It was initiated after victims of war in Iraq were unable to access the necessary medical attention needed, and has continued due to the ongoing conflicts in the region and the lack of appropriate healthcare facilities in war-torn countries. The program aims to become a global leader in reconstructive orthopaedic, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, as well as a national and international referral and reference centre, and a training and research hub to develop and document knowledge and innovation in reconstructive surgery. The hospital has received 4745 admissions and has performed 11500 surgeries since its opening.
