This is what Dedication looks like… ADT Staff and patients connect via social media and video conferencing during quarantine
Sir Bobby Charlton Center, Amman, Jordan
The Polus Center and Asia Development Training (ADT) programs continue to serve Syrian refugees remotely at the Sir Bobby Charlton Center in Amman, Jordan. In fact, ADT rehabilitation staff have never stopped working. Using Apps and video conferencing they continue to provide physical therapy and trauma-related care, keeping patients and their families motivated and in recovery while staying safe, and healthy.
Building national capacity together, since 2010
Polus Center has been steadily working in the region with rehabilitation partners on the ground providing training and services to civilian war-wounded victims of conflict since 2010.
- Polus Center and ADT have trained hundreds of Syrian refugees and Jordanian graduates in Prosthetic and Orthotic Fabrication, Physical Therapy, Peer to Peer Counseling, Expressive Art Therapy, and PTSD Trauma Support.
- Thousands of Syrian refugee children have benefitted from Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Individual PTSD Counseling, Trauma Support therapies, Leadership Training, and Mentorship programs.
Dedicated staff provides continuity of care
Akram Ramini, Executive Director of ADT has been in daily contact with the Jordanian Ministry of Health since mid-February, keeping informed of the latest COVID-19 developments. Together with his staff, they have created an impressive response plan that manages to follow governmental guidelines, put health and safety protocols in place, and still maintain continuity of care for their patients. Physical therapy, psychological trauma care, and peer support programs all continue under the quarantine.
Peer support counselors and trainees are a key resource during the COVID-19 quarantine. Mr. Obada Al Asmi heads the peer support program and oversees the trainees and patients as they utilize technology to stay connected with each other and their groups. Peer support networks are critical when patients need daily encouragement to communicate, motivate, exercise, and stay engaged in their recovery.
Dr. Niveen Abuzaid and her team continue to provide therapy sessions to children and families via phone and video conferencing, and a family-focused enrichment campaign was initiated specifically geared toward this time in quarantine. Family-oriented creative prompts, exercises, and positive messaging are shared daily through Facebook and email.
Continuity of care promotes healing and leadership
16 year old Sami Farraj is a Syrian refugee who came to the prosthetic rehabilitation program in 2013 after losing both of his legs in an airstrike. His childhood has not been easy. In the seven years he has been a patient with the program, Sami has traveled far on his road to recovery, immersing himself in the expressive arts program and training to be a youth leader. He mentors younger children and offers peer support to those just arriving. His confidence and optimism is a direct result of the time spent at the center, in fact he says that it was painting in this program that gave him “the first feeling that life was worth living again”.