Around 18 per cent of Jordanians suffer from some type of allergy, according to health officials, who say this places a huge economic burden on the country.
“The number of Jordanians who suffer from allergies is estimated at 800,000 according to a recent study,” President of the Jordanian Society of Allergy and Immunology Hani Ababneh told The Jordan Times, noting that each case costs the Kingdom around JD180 per month.
Inaugurating the Third International Jordanian Congress of Allergy and Immunology on Wednesday, HRH Princess Basma said allergies are gaining international attention due to the “marked” increase in allergy-related diseases of all kinds.
“Allergies and allergy-related diseases, which are caused by an imbalance in the immune system due to multiple environmental, climatic, nutritional and genetic factors, have a direct impact on the quality of human life and impede our advancement to a better world,” the Princess said, citing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on the Millennium Development Goals, which paid special attention to women’s and children’s health.
Princess Basma underlined that Jordan has shown great commitment to these goals, which have a deadline of 2015, in order to serve Jordanians, underlining that healthcare in the Kingdom and the “tangible” progress in the medical sector are considered among the country’s top achievements.
“This can be seen in the comprehensive health policy and the solid foundation for building an integrated health system based on the partnership between the public and private sectors, in addition to the Royal Medical Services,” the Princess highlighted.
She underscored the need to encourage medical students to specialise in allergies to eliminate the suffering of patients.
Around 500 physicians from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Palestine, Libya, the UK, Greece, Japan, Turkey and India are taking part in the three-day conference, held in cooperation with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).
Participants are discussing several issues related to allergies, including the use of stem cells and bone transplants for the treatment of allergy-related diseases, as well as food, drug and climate-related allergies, Ababneh noted.
They are also looking into the possibility of establishing an Arab union for allergies and immunology.
“The recommendations include the need to establish a national centre for allergy in Jordan and a national registry to document all cases,” he told The Jordan Times.
EAACI Deputy President Omar Kalayci underlined the importance of the event in providing a platform for participating countries to share their experience in the field of allergy treatment.
Princess Basma also inaugurated a medical exhibition held on the sidelines of the conference, which showcases Jordanian and international pharmaceutical companies.
The Jordan Times