Across Yemen today, around 1.3 million pregnant or nursing mothers and 2.2 million children under age five require treatment for acute malnutrition. Health literacy is a critical tool for sustaining and saving their lives, especially when they are conflict-displaced and unable to access basic necessities like food, clean water, and primary health care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) is supporting a refresher training for a network of 1,277 community health and nutrition volunteers to equip pregnant and breastfeeding women in 24 priority districts across 8 governorates with the right information to make the best health and nutrition choices they can for themselves and their infants, during and after their pregnancies.
Dhiya Saif, 28, is expecting her first child next month. She and her family were displaced by conflict five years ago, and now live in Aden, Yemen. The unaffordability of food, more than its availability, presents a major challenge for this family.
“There is a community health volunteer who has given me the information I have needed to improve my health awareness, and ensure my baby is well-nourished and in good health,” Dhiya says. “I am so much looking forward to giving birth – I cannot wait to hold my baby for the first time!”