Irbid, Sept. 21 (Petra) -- HRH Princess Basma bint Talal, Chairwoman of the Higher Committee of the Goodwill Campaign, implemented by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), on Monday visited patients receiving treatment under the campaign at Irbid Specialty Hospital and Alro'ya Eye Center in Irbid Governorate.

Accompanied by Irbid Governor Firas Abu Al-Ghanam, Princess Basma visited several patients from Jordan’s northern region who had undergone free, specialized surgeries in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, orthopedic and joint surgery, and general surgery. The procedures were performed by volunteer consultants and specialists participating in the campaign’s "Healing Touch" program as part of its partnership with the private medical sector.

During the visit, Princess Basma was briefed by the medical teams overseeing the procedures on the nature of the surgeries and interventions performed on 19 patients whose families face difficult living conditions.

The teams said the patients were in stable condition and that all the operations had been successful.

"The Goodwill Campaign, through its ‘Healing Touch’ program, is committed to reaching families in need across the Kingdom and providing them with advanced healthcare services, helping alleviate their suffering and improve the health of the targeted patients," Princess Basma said.

She stressed the importance of the partnership between the campaign and the private medical sector, saying it is rooted in social solidarity and reflects the sector’s and volunteers’ commitment to the campaign’s objectives and humanitarian mission.

Princess Basma highlighted the importance of the surgeries and medical interventions provided to Goodwill Campaign patients of all age groups across the Kingdom, saying they contribute significantly to ending their suffering, restoring hope and enabling them to resume normal lives.

She also expressed pride in partnerships among national institutions, which she said demonstrate their commitment to a culture of volunteerism and charitable work and their determination to ensure that all Jordanians have access to healthcare and a dignified life.

The princess commended the expertise and competence of the medical teams overseeing the surgeries, noting that Jordan’s public and private healthcare sectors have earned a reputation that has made the Kingdom an important destination for medical tourism in the region.

Princess Basma witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the Goodwill Campaign, Irbid Specialty Hospital, and Alro'ya Eye Center to institutionalize cooperation in providing the necessary healthcare to campaign patients in the northern region.

The agreements were signed by the campaign’s medical team leader, Dr. Nayef Al-Abdallat, the hospital’s director, Dr. Wasfi Al-Rashdan, and the Chairman of the board of directors of the center, Dr. Shadi Al-Khatib.

Al-Rashdan expressed the hospital’s pride in its cooperation and partnership with the Goodwill Campaign, saying the partnership embodies the values of compassion, giving, and belonging. He affirmed the hospital’s readiness to contribute its expertise and medical teams to alleviating patients’ suffering and restoring smiles and hope.

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Fawaz, Director of Alro'ya Eye Care and Surgery Center, said the mission of medicine does not end within the walls of a medical center and cannot be measured solely by the equipment and technology available but rather by what can be offered to people and society.

"The signing of the partnership agreement between the center and the Goodwill Campaign moves humanitarian cooperation into a sustainable institutional framework and opens the way for more initiatives that bring together medical expertise and development work, helping deliver healthcare to those who need it," he said.

He said the agreement represents a joint commitment to turning the partnership into a tangible impact on people’s lives and working together to expand access to specialized medical services and improve treatment and healthcare opportunities for those most in need.

Princess Basma began her visit to Irbid Governorate by visiting Yarmouk University, where she met University President Malik Alsharairi and the deans of the university’s faculties. A cooperation agreement was also signed between the university and JOHUD covering joint development services and programs of the university’s Faculty of Mass Communication.

Princess Basma said Yarmouk University represents a strategic and active partner in local development, given its academic and research expertise and young talent. She stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between the university and JOHUD to help translate academic knowledge and expertise into tangible development programs and initiatives serving people and Jordanian society and strengthening the role of young people and women in development.

In the presence of the Irbid governor, she said cooperation with the university would provide a starting point for further joint work in training, capacity-building, entrepreneurship, and services for local groups and communities, in line with JOHUD’s vision and priorities of supporting sustainable development, investing in people, empowering individuals and families, and consolidating a sustainable development approach based on knowledge, partnership, and social responsibility.

Princess Basma praised Yarmouk University’s role in advancing Jordan’s education sector, preparing students for the labor market and equipping them with knowledge and skills, as well as its efforts to serve the community, support students and empower them.

Alsharairi said Yarmouk University, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment, reaffirms, through its mission in education, scientific research, and community service, its belief in integrating knowledge with skills, opportunity with empowerment, knowledge with action, and the university with the community.

He said the university is committed to harnessing its academic and human resources to support national development efforts and enabling its students to acquire the skills and experience needed to contribute effectively to their communities, while promoting social responsibility, coexistence, and acceptance of others.

"The memorandum of understanding between the university and JOHUD represents a renewed institutional framework for expanding cooperation and serving the community through joint training programmes, workshops and field initiatives, with a tangible impact on students and local communities and a contribution to building sustainable development partnerships that respond to national needs and priorities," he said.

The agreement covers cooperation in training, scientific research, volunteer work, and community service, with the aim of strengthening the impact of development programs implemented by both sides.

Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate to improve the quality of services and expand access to specialized healthcare through the "Healing Touch" program, the referral system, and psychological support sessions. They will also work to link education to the labor market through student field training and applied graduation projects, while drawing on academic expertise in community interventions.

The two sides will also work to enhance students’ and graduates’ readiness for the labor market through training and employment programs delivered via the "My Opportunity" platform and career days, support small businesses and improve women’s economic opportunities through women-led enterprise development and the "My Dignity Through My Work" program, and enable participation in the university’s rural and agricultural market. Efforts will also focus on improving product marketing and market access through branding, packaging, and digital marketing, as well as providing space to display and sell products at the rural and agricultural market.

The agreement also provides for cooperation in strengthening social and psychological support services, implementing joint youth initiatives and the "Paths of Goodness" program, involving university students in youth committees and community activities carried out by JOHUD, strengthening evidence-based planning through updating development reports and applied studies, producing media content and campaigns, and developing joint funding partnerships.

Princess Basma also met a number of university students benefiting from scholarships and educational assistance provided by the campaign.

//Petra// AF