The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has witnessed sustained economic growth and nutrition transition in the last few decades. Despite the progress, reductions in the prevalence of micronutrient (Iron, Vit A, Vit D, and Zinc) deficiencies have been mixed. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and key stakeholders in Jordan, the Jordan National Micronutrient Survey (JNMNS) was implemented in 2019 to provide a comprehensive assessment of various forms of malnutrition and its associated factors, and to assess the prevalence of deficiencies of key micronutrients (Iron, Vit A, Vit D, and Zinc) in women of reproductive age and pre-school children. Distinguished panelists in this webinar presented findings on the trends of the micronutrient status (JNMNS), as well as the nutritional status and food consumption patterns of reproductive age group women and young children in Jordan.

Moderator:

Ms. Haneen Abulaila | Country Coordinator, Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab
Haneen Abulaila is the Country Coordinator for the Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab (JNIL) funded by USAID and implemented in partnership by Tufts University and Mindset. She is passionate about projects that improve health outcomes for women and children in Jordan. Abulaila has over 15 years of experience in project management and implementation and is currently overseeing both the capacity building and research components of the USAID-funded initiative. Her accomplishments on the project include further developing the knowledge and skills of stakeholders in the maternal and child health and nutrition landscape in-country. Before working at Mindset, Abulaila was a project manager at Medair, where she strategically planned and lead the implementation of interventions that sought to improve maternal access to health care and nutritional knowledge as well as maximize healthy behaviors. Abulaila graduated from the University of Jordan with a degree in Pharmacy.

Speakers:

Eng. Rawhieh Barham | Head of Nutrition Department, Noncommunicable Disease Directorate, Jordan Ministry of Health
Rawhieh Barham is the head of the Nutrition Department in PHC Administration in the Health Ministry of Jordan. She is responsible for improving the health and well-being of Jordanians through monitoring and evaluation of nutrition strategies including food fortification and supplementation programs. She has developed and promoted food-based dietary guidelines and non-communicable disease management guidelines, and has led national studies for the assessment of micronutrient deficiency and impact of fortification programs on health status among women of child-bearing age and children under 5. Eng. Rawhieh has published many recent scientific papers, including the Review of the Nutrition Situation in Jordan: Trends and Way Forward. She also provides nutrition assistance, dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, and nutrition education for Jordanian and Syrian refugees in collaboration with UNICEF and WFP in Jordan. A Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Eng. Rawhieh acknowledging her significant and excellent work with the Nutrition Unit at WHO / EMRO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as for her leadership for the nutrition program in Jordan.

Dr. Asma Basha | Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Jordan and Jordan University Hospital
Asma Basha is an obstetrician and gynecologist, and one of the first to hold a fetomaternal subspecialty in Jordan after her training in Sydney- Australia. She is also the first female professor in OBGYN in Jordan. Currently, she is the Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Jordan and Jordan University Hospital, and her interests include sexual and reproductive health for women with special focus on pregnant women and lactating women and fetal health. She holds many publications in relation to these interests, is a member of many committees in Jordan on topics including the Jordan maternal mortality survey and response, cesarean section reduction, strategy for reproductive health in Jordan, Jordanian Board for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Hashemite University Board of Trustees, Medical Accountability Committee and others. Her ambition is to promote health equity for all.

Dr. Narmeen Al-Awwad | Head of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, The Hashemite University
Narmeen Jamal Al-Awwad is an Associate Professor of Nutrition and head of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department in the Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences at The Hashemite University, Zarrqa. Dr. Al-Awwad earned her PhD (2012), MSc (2004), and BSc (2000) from the Department of Nutrition and Food Technology at the University of Jordan in Amman, and aims to spread the science and awareness of nutrition using various tools such as performing related research, nutrition education and counseling. Dr. Al-Awwad has published 18 articles to date on research topics including functional foods (probiotics and prebiotics), pediatric nutrition, sport nutrition and dietary patterns associated with chronic diseases. Currently she is a member in the Health Education Clinic Committee at The Hashemite University, a member of the technical committee for preparing educational materials of complementary feeding and feeding diversity for children < 5 years old at the Ministry of Health, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Jordanian Dietetic Association (JDA). She has also participated in many local technical committees including “The Athletes Food” and “Foods for Special Use” Committees at the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), as well as the Juice and Beverage Committee in the Jordanian Institute for Standardization and Metrology.