King inaugurates army-run hospital in Mafraq

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Monday visited the JAF General Command and inaugurated the King Talal Military Hospital in Mafraq. 

At the JAF headquarters, the Supreme Commander met with King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben over issues of interest to JAF, a Royal Court statement said.

King Abdullah, accompanied by Zaben, also visited the Joint Special Operations Command, where he checked on the operational, training and administrative tasks carried out by different units of the force.

His Majesty expressed his satisfaction with the high morale and advanced level JAF units have achieved, the statement added. 

In Mafraq, the Monarch unveiled the curtain on a plaque commemorating the opening of the army-run hospital, which was established under Royal directives, according to the Royal Court, which said in a separate statement that the medical facility applies the best international practices to improve the level of health services in the governorate, some 80km northeast of Amman, and Northern Badia.

The 150-bed hospital, which has started receiving patients, is built on a 41-dunum plot of land and “represents a qualitative leap in the medical sector in Mafraq and Northern Badia areas”, which witness increasing demand on health services due to hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, the statement added.

His Majesty toured the facility, which functions under the Royal Medical Services (RMS). It includes all main medical specialties, as well as specialised clinics and operation theatres equipped with up-to-date medical devices.

The King was briefed by RMS Director General Maj. Gen. Muin Habashneh on the standards observed during the construction and furnishing of the hospital, which took into consideration the main needs of medical specialties for the residents of Mafraq and neighbouring areas. 

King Abdullah had a first hand look at the paediatrics, ICU, operations, resuscitation, emergency and X-ray departments.

At the ICU, Hospital Director Brig. Gen. Salah Raggad briefed His Majesty on the equipment used by the unit and the “qualitative services” offered to patients. 

The Saudi Development Fund contributed to completing the construction and furnishing of the hospital, which also includes 12 dialysis units and 10 operation rooms. The assistance was secured through the Saudi share in a 2011 fund set up by Arab Gulf countries to support Jordan’s development drive. 

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Habashneh pointed out to RMS’ strategic plan, which includes the inauguration of the Princess Haya Military Hospital, in the near future, to serve Jerash and Ajloun governorates. 

For his part, Raggad told Petra that the hospital is staffed by qualified medical, nursing and technical cadres, who provide medical care to more than 200,000 military and security agencies’ members, pensioners and their families.

He added that the facility’s design allows future expansion to increase the number of beds to more than 300.