Background & Objectives
The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) develops and implements public health and safety programs in an effort to increase health awareness in Jordan and change unhealthy habits and lifestyles. The need for RHAS’ services stems from the rise in deaths resulting from non-communicable diseases; statistics indicate that about 3 out of 4 deaths in Jordan are caused by non-infectious diseases.
When planning and implementing its programs, the RHAS relies on raising awareness rather than providing remedial services, believing that prevention is better than cure and the best way to enable individuals to adopt healthier habits and improve their lifestyles. To achieve its objectives, the RHAS designs programs that comply with Jordan’s national health priorities as well as the diverse needs of its target beneficiaries. It takes into account, the importance of engaging beneficiaries in the development and execution of programs, and providing them with the practical skills they need in order to become change leaders in their communities.
The RHAS appreciates the integral role that partnership and collaboration play in helping meet its objectives and reach as many beneficiaries as possible. This is why it continuously aims to reach out to and build relationships with the private and public sector as well as civil society institutions. The RHAS consistently maintains open channels of communication with all its supporters, to ensure continuity when it comes to the exchange of expertise and resources.
Impact
Healthy Schools
The Healthy Schools program is a national accreditation program implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education since 2008, with an aim to create health-promoting environment within schools, reflecting positively on students’ physical and social growing, as well as their academic performance. The program is carried through national health standards which participating schools are trained and supervised on to implement successfully. In 2018 more than 300 health teachers and 157 principals from all participating schools were trained on health standards for the academic year 2017/2018.
The Healthy Kitchen
In partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Food Program (WFP), the Healthy Kitchen Project (HKP) was launched in 2015, with the aim to provide healthy and nutritious food alternatives (meals) to school students, through linking schools to productive kitchens with community-based organizations (CBOs), who in turn provide these healthy meals to surrounding schools. The project also aims to raise health and nutrition awareness and healthier eating patterns through providing comprehensive nutrition information and educational resources within the schools’ community. in 2018 314 job opportunities were created in the local community, mainly for women, who received training on the Healthy Kitchen operations and meals production standards, basic financial literacy, and the importance of leading healthy lifestyles.
Generations Protected (Tahseen)
Through this initiative, the RHAS hopes to educate children and young people about the dangers of smoking and drugs. The initiative adopts various interactive and participatory approaches that aim to provide beneficiaries with community and life skills as well as motivate them to engage in productive activities.
The RHAS runs "Tahseen" in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Anti-Narcotics Department and hopes to reach various age groups through the following programs:
- The “Anti-Smoking Ambassadors” program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders
- The “Unplugged” program for 7th and 8th graders
- The “Y Peer Educators” program for youth aged 18 - 25 years
Testimonial
“The Healthy Schools program is a highly effective program and tackles all aspects that affect the students’ and teacher’s health. I think it should be implemented in all schools”Intesar Mistarihi
School Principal - Al Ashrafeeyeh Secondary School