My name is Moza Freihat and I am a journalist and activist from Ajloun governorate. Working in the media has made me feel responsible for sharing the concerns of my local community. I was elected member of municipality in Kafranja during 3 consecutive elections, which has further strengthened my sense of responsibility towards the social needs in my region.
I always remember the story of one of my neighbors, whose son passed out and was unable to receive treatment at Rajeb medical center because it was closed. Therefore, the young man had to be driven to the closest medical center, but unfortunately, he died on the way. I remember how painful this was to all of us, and this has made me determined to ensure that Rajeb inhabitants receive proper healthcare, because this is not a luxury but a right we must fight for.
Rajeb town, Kafranjah, is a remote area that suffers from a lack of basic services, in particular related to health due to the absence of a comprehensive health center that meets citizens’ needs. A basic health center was established in 1976 that aims at providing primary health care services to the village. However, the center ended up serving large population centers in neighboring villages such as Zaghrat Zbed, Dubbe, Um Al Batam, Al Kharabeh, Dhus and Kaab Malloul, while operating for a maximum of 4 hours daily. This leads residents of Rajeb to commute to other health centers in Kafranja and Ajloun, which is a burden as the distance is long. Additionally, the center does not provide all necessary medical services. As a consequence, many patients are sent to Iman Public Hospital, which lacks a number of departments, such as a laboratory, and medical supplies.
This has encouraged a few women from Wadi Rajab Women’s Cooperative Association, my leader friend Nadia Ananzeh and myself to launch the ‘We care about your health’ initiative, implemented in cooperation with ANHRE and Hivos, that aims at organizing community and women to raise awareness on the importance of obtaining our health rights in order to pressure decision-makers in Rajeb. A number of meetings was held with women from the community and decision-makers to understand their concerns, the major challenges faced by the health sector and their suggested solutions. Women emphasized their demand to have the health center operate according to its official opening hours, and also extending them to 4PM.
Additionally, we formed a local committee to support the campaign and met with the director of the health directorate in Ajloun, Ajloun governorate council members, local MPs, the director of the Rajeb Health Center as well as employees of the Rajeb Health Center in order to understand the implemented policies and the plans related to building a comprehensive health center in Rajeb.
In parallel, we have launched a media campaign to raise awareness about the rights of citizens to receive proper health care, and the need to extend the working hours of the health center. After 15 counselling sessions with community members and decision-makers, we have developed a number of demands and sent it to the Minister of Health through a MP from the region and the Director of Health in Ajloun. It includes:
- The necessity to increase working hours
- Hiring a general practitioner and a dentist
- Providing necessary monthly treatments for chronic diseases, based on the number of cases
- Lengthening the lab’s working hours
- Activating the emergency department
It is worth mentioning that we were faced with resistance by a number of employees at the Medical Center and the Directorate of Health. However, the local community’s engagement and the media campaign supported us in pressuring decision-makers.
This experience enabled us to move forward and made me feel that I have an important role as a woman leader to fight for my community’s rights. Furthermore, I felt that I had a decision-making power, as a right holder, and this strengthened my will to make my voice heard to decision-makers.
As a result of the initiative, the Director of the Health Directorate in Ajloun requested that the working hours of the Center be extended until 3PM at first, then to 4PM at a later stage.