During the Bridges' inaugural trip to Jordan, members of the American delegation had the opportunity to meet with Princess Ghida, Princess Dina, and Dr. Mahmoud Mr. Sarhan, director of the King Hussein Cancer Center. The cancer center, the delegates learned, is only capable of treating a limited range of cancers. The center is in need of medical and diagnostic equipment. In addition, there is little research being done, with no community outreach program or prevention/awareness program in place - something especially needed to combat the growing prevalence of breast cancer in the region. What the Jordanian wanted and needed most was to collaborate with a "comprehensive" cancer center in the U.S. ("Comprehensive" status is granted by the National Cancer Institute to cancer centers that fulfill certain NCI criteria, particularly in connection with research.) Marlene Malek, board member of the Duke University Comprehensive Center and the M.D. Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, contacted both. Talks are now in progress on ways to collaborate with the King Hussein Cancer Center.
During the second annual trip to Jordan, the Bridges delegation had the privilege to visit Dar Al Aman, the first and only therapeutic center for child victims of maltreatment. Dar Al Aman operates under the Jordan River Foundation's Child Safety Program and serves abused children from infancy to early adolescence. The primary goal of Dar Al Aman is to provide an education and rehabilitative treatment program which will enable children to overcome the impairments and negative feelings caused by the abuse, restore their self-worth and value, enhance their competencies and fulfill their potential. The rehab plan is conducted through a multidisciplinary team consisting of a psychologist, social worker, teacher, nurse, and a caregiver attending holistically to the developmental needs of each child. The Bridges delegation was able to speak with members of the Dar Al Aman staff about their latest steps towards enhancing and expanding their program and was able to meet with some of the children that are currently living in the shelter.
|
