With funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it is scaling up lifesaving trauma and nutrition services in high-risk and conflict-affected districts.
The 12-month project, according to a WHO statement aims to strengthen essential health and live saving nutrition services and improve access to quality care for vulnerable communities amid an increasingly fragile humanitarian situation.
The statement added that WHO will deploy 6 specialized surgical teams to hospitals in Taiz, Hajjah, Al Hudaydah and Marib, restoring 24/7 emergency trauma and surgical services and the procurement of lifesaving medicines and surgical supplies.
The project will train 100 first responders and emergency health workers on mass casualty incident management, including basic life support, strengthening immediate trauma response closer to the front lines to help ensure access to timely care – within 1 hour after injury – for patients, facilitate referrals and save lives.
In close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, WHO will also support the establishment of a national emergency medical team framework to improve preparedness during health emergencies and mass-casualty incidents, engaging the 3 levels of the Organization, including the Emergency Medical Team Secretariat at WHO headquarters.
WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Syed Jaffer Hussain said: “The project will help Yemen build national systems and skilled teams capable of responding effectively to future health crises through the establishment of a national emergency medical team framework engaging the 3 levels of the Organization and other stakeholders.”
Malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children in Yemen. With ECHO’s support, WHO will sustain and strengthen services in 26 therapeutic feeding centers in priority governorates to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications.
The intervention also provides transportation support for 488 frontline health workers to ensure they can reach facilities and funds essential operational costs such as meals for caregivers, WASH materials, oxygen and utilities. To ensure service quality and adherence to national treatment standards, WHO will conduct regular mentoring and supervision visits.
The project will reach more than 155 000 people, including displaced families, women and children across 12 governorates, and strengthen coordination under the Health Cluster, co-led by WHO, helping to ensure an effective, equitable and complementary health response nationwide.
WHO continues to work with partners to maintain essential services, train health workers and ensure the availability of lifesaving medicines and supplies in Yemen’s most affected districts.
This intervention is made possible through funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) which continues to support WHO efforts to sustain essential health and nutrition services and protect the lives of Yemen’s most vulnerable communities.