Ammon News - Minister of Health Firas Hawari on Tuesday laid the cornerstone for a JD1.8 million reconstruction and development project of the al-Hamra Comprehensive Health Center in the Northwestern Badia region, funded by the Qatar Charity.

Hawari said that laying the cornerstone is a testament to the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Qatar, as well as Doha's commitment to supporting the Jordanian Ministry of Health's efforts to develop the local health centers' infrastructure to achieve its goals, which include upgrading the quality of primary health care services across the Kingdom. He also commended the Qatar Charity's grant, which has made this project possible.

The center, he indicated, is vital for citizens in Mafraq as it provides health services and maternal and child services for more than 15,000 Jordanians and more than 5,000 Syrian refugees.

For his part, Qatari Ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani underscored the importance of the project to serve members of the local community and provide basic health services.

He stressed Qatar Charity's pivotal role in addressing humanitarian challenges and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, in light of the ongoing challenges, most notably the Syrian crisis, which has pressured Jordan's infrastructure.

The Qatari ambassador pointed to the projects that the charity has implemented in the Kingdom, which have an estimated cost of JD25 million in the form of aid, shelter projects, food, health, educational and social projects, in addition to sponsoring more than 6,500 orphans, poor families, refugee families and students.

He also highlighted plans to pump about JD13 million in projects this year and expand its programs and projects in various fields, foremost of which are sustainability and economic empowerment programs, family rehabilitation and training, the social sponsorship program, development projects and education projects, while continuing its relief programs that serve the Jordanian society and refugee communities.