29 January 2024, Aden, Yemen – WHO and Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population have successfully implemented a project entitled “Provide Life-saving Services in Selected Hospitals in Yemen through the Installation of 5 Oxygen Stations”. The project was made possible thanks to generous funding from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
From March 2022 to October 2023, the project installed 5 oxygen stations in strategic locations in Abyan, Al Maharah, Hadhramaut, Marib and Shabwah governorates. This collaborative effort between WHO and KSrelief reflects a shared commitment to strengthen health systems in Yemen and exemplifies resilience-building through ensuring health service continuity in targeted hospitals.
The 5 oxygen stations now supply critical oxygen to hospitals and cater to the oxygen needs of 88 nearby health centres. This has significantly enhanced the health infrastructure in remote districts, especially in high-risk areas.
Oxygen network piping systems were also set up as part of the initiative, to bring the oxygen from the production site directly to the wards of the relevant hospital. In addition, 21 technical and hospital personnel were trained on station maintenance, and a monitoring system was put in place to ensure the effectiveness of the overall effort.
To date, nearly 236 000 beneficiaries from the communities next to the hospitals have benefited, with an estimated 85 454 patients receiving essential oxygen therapy. These figures highlight the profound impact on patients in need, emphasizing the life-saving nature of the project.
“On behalf of WHO Yemen, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the funding received from KSrelief,” said Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen. “This project has not only enhanced the financial efficiency of oxygen supply to health care facilities but also improved access to consistent medical oxygen in prioritized governorates through strategic procurement and deployment. This emphasizes the commitment to sustainable and accessible health care solutions for communities in need.”
Mr Naif Asiri, Assisting Director, KSrelief Aden branch , said: “King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has played a crucial role, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, in bolstering health care services by supporting programmes and projects that encompass various institutions within the health care sector in Yemen. Oxygen stations stand out as vital projects with significant impact, functioning to supply government hospitals across 5 Yemeni governorates. These stations, with their production capacity, contribute to the enhancement of health services within the corresponding health departments.”
“We highly appreciate the partnership with the World Health Organization in the implementation of the project to support oxygen stations in Yemen – the second phase. Additionally, we acknowledge the commendable efforts of the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population in overcoming challenges associated with the project,” added Mr Asiri.
The successful collaboration between WHO, the Ministry of Public Health and Population and KSrelief supports the sustainable presence of oxygen in the 5 governorates for the people of Yemen. It also sets a precedent for future collaborative efforts in health infrastructure development.
KSrelief has been one of the largest contributors to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan since 2017, having contributed over US$ 320 million to WHO in support of humanitarian and health response operations.