Healthcare challenges among Syrian refugee families in Jordan

As refugees in Jordan, Syrian families have faced various challenges, and healthcare expenses have added to their already difficult lives. EU humanitarian partner ‘Medair’ has met families who struggle to meet their basic needs, including health care, food, education, and making an income.

Among those families is Wafaa, a resilient Syrian refugee who, along with her family, fled Syria to Jordan in 2014. She enrolled in Medair’s behaviour change communication programme funded by the European Union.

Medair’s health team, accompanied by EU humanitarian expert, Branko, paid a visit to Wafaa’s home in east Amman.

Living in a modest house with her husband, Ali, and their 4 children, they found themselves mired in overwhelming debt, making it increasingly challenging to meet their financial obligations.

Ali, a tailor and the sole breadwinner, has faced significant health setbacks that make him unable to work. This has forced their eldest son, Mohammad, to abandon his education and shoulder the responsibility of providing for the family as a tailor.

Wafaa’s own health struggles have posed significant obstacles on her path. Affected by various conditions stemming from her life experiences, her wellbeing has been profoundly impacted.

With a heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes, Wafaa’s weight had soared to 163kg, greatly endangering her health.

Unaware of her conditions and lacking the knowledge to make positive changes, she openly shared, ‘’For some people, like me, we didn’t complete our education, and we do not have good awareness about health matters,’’ highlighting the importance of education and awareness.

A new beginning for Wafaa

In January 2022, Wafaa enrolled in Medair’s programme on behaviour change communication, which would reshape her lifestyle.

Over the course of 6 sessions, Medair’s health team, with the guidance of Mays, a dedicated health officer, empowered participants to adopt healthier behaviours related to diabetes control, regular exercise, low-salt diet, self-care practices, and psychological support.

‘’We consistently aim to empower people so that they can take charge of their health and wellbeing. It is rewarding when our participants proudly share their own success stories with us; that’s when we truly see the impact of our work and how it contributes to improving their quality of life,’ said Mays.

The impact of these sessions on Wafaa’s life was positive. She began incorporating regular exercise into her routine and adopted a healthier diet resulting in a weight loss of 22kg within a short time span.

She now possesses a deeper understanding of her diseases and can make informed choices for herself and her family.

Wafaa said: “I developed my thinking after these sessions. I wasn’t aware of the benefits of healthy food choices, which in turn helped me lose 22 kg of weight in a healthy way. I started to exercise and walk almost every day. When your mind is aware, you start learning.”

Today, Wafaa is equipped with the knowledge to manage her diabetes and blood pressure effectively, enabling her to respond to both high and low situations.

Reflecting on the transformative support provided by the EU and Medair, she shared: “I felt hopeless, and my mental health was deteriorating, but now I feel better, happier, and more comfortable in my sleep, movements, and eating habits”.

As the visit concluded, our colleague Branko said: “I’m very happy to hear Wafaa’s story, it’s inspiring. I hope you share what you learned with others, and not only with your family”.

With EU humanitarian support, Medair continues to uplift vulnerable refugees as well as vulnerable Jordanians, ensuring they overcome the persistent barriers to accessing health care and emergency treatment.