28 January 2024  – Nestled in the remote reaches of Bayhan district, Shaheed Al Defaiaah Hospital is a vital element of health care provision. In this isolated part of Yemen, this hospital provides access to medical care at reasonable prices, making it a lifeline to local communities.

The hospital plays a crucial role in facilitating the urgent transfer of patients who require complex and specialized treatment while ensuring that others in need receive timely and proper care.

Given this critical mission, the support from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to establish an oxygen station at the hospital benefits not only the district but also the entire Shabwa governorate . The new station ensures a steady and reliable supply of oxygen to those in desperate need.

"The oxygen station replaced the previous practice of transporting oxygen from nearby districts, providing a more sustainable solution for Bayhan district,” said Emergency Department Manager Dr Mohammed Tawfiq Sheikh Al-Fatmi.

From struggle to hope: Al-Akhdar Hadi’s encounter with the oxygen station

In Alghariqa village in Bayhan, Mr Al-Akhdar Saleh Ahmed Hadi , a resilient 30-year-old asthma patient, vividly shares the uphill battle his family has faced due to the relentless grip of asthma. “Asthma appears to run in my family,” he said. He went on to describe the severe breathlessness that he endures when exposed to dust or the smoke from burned incense.

Both Mr Hadi and his mother are asthma patients and require oxygen supply from time to time. Unfortunately, this essential resource has often been unavailable owing to oxygen shortages in the area. These frequent shortages have left patients like Mr Hadi and his mother gasping for air during distressing asthma attacks.

“Asthma is a relentless adversary for my family,” Mr Hadi stressed. “My mum and I need a supply every now and then – especially during dusty weather – which we sometimes could not find.”

The setting up of an oxygen station in the area, with the aim of supporting all patients like Mr Hadi, has transformed the situation. Oxygen availability has increased, lessening the struggles faced by both patients and health workers, especially in critical asthma and stroke cases . “The station alleviated many of the struggles for health care providers and patients, as oxygen is mostly used and is a crucial medical supply, and the presence of the station alleviated the concerns we used to have before,” said Dr Al-Fatmi .

“I’m glad that we will finally be able to find the oxygen when needed the most. I feel more secure for myself and my family,” concluded Mr Hadi.

The oxygen station project surpasses mere oxygen provision – it signifies a commitment to make oxygen available to all , whenever it is needed. The community has felt the positive effects of the project, confirming that the project has exceeded expectations in all the geographic areas it has managed to reach. The improved accessibility to oxygen has emerged as a lifeline for vulnerable families in dire need of this essential service.