Amman: The Higher Population Council, in cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant entities, held the first meeting of a task force on gender-responsive school health to develop a roadmap aimed at enhancing school environments for adolescent girls. The initiative seeks to ensure a more inclusive and supportive learning experience.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting aimed to incorporate gender-responsive school health into the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, along with its implementation plan, and to track indicators assessing progress in addressing adolescent girls’ health needs in school environments, as stated by the council.
Issa Masarweh, Secretary-General of the council, emphasized that educators, school infrastructure, curricula, and extracurricular activities play a crucial role in safeguarding the health of adolescent boys and girls before graduation. He noted that addressing this issue is integral to an educational process that caters to the developmental needs of adolescent girls within schools.
Jesus Trelles, Chief of WASH at UNICEF, highlighted the organization’s support in ensuring adolescent girls’ access to hygiene services and facilities in schools. He described this access as vital for protecting their health, upholding their rights, boosting their self-confidence, and enabling uninterrupted education in a safe environment. Trelles acknowledged the formation of the national team as a significant step toward sustainable and coordinated integration of the issue into national systems.
Juana Samawi, the council’s Reproductive Health and Gender Program Coordinator, provided insights into the key health issues affecting adolescent girls in schools and proposed their integration into the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy. Ward Btoush, a researcher in gender and reproductive health, emphasized the importance of forming a working group of school health stakeholders and measuring progress indicators aligned with the approved roadmap.
Khitam Malkawi, Head of the Ministry of Education’s Gender Section, discussed integrating adolescent girls’ health into the Education Strategic Plan framework. Tareq Damen, Head of the Ministry of Health’s Shelters Department, reviewed the incorporation of this issue into school health strategies and activities. Consultant Kafa Akroush presented the standard operating procedures for the gender-responsive school health task force.
Participants concluded the meeting by discussing and approving the next steps for launching the proposed initiatives. They agreed on the frequency of national team meetings, the start of institutional coordination for preparing scientific materials related to gender-responsive school health, identifying and addressing gaps, and building on existing materials and previous efforts to avoid duplication. The national team’s role in aligning indicators with the local cultural context was also emphasized.