Monther began working in the Al Sadakah isolation unit of Aden’s Al Sadakah hospital in April 2021

3 October 2021 – “I have asked to be among the frontline health workers fighting against COVID19. I want to serve humanity and this is the least I can do”.

Monther Haider, 30, recalled this stressful conversation with his mother.

“She began crying and told me I couldn’t do this, because I wouldn’t be safe, and I could be at risk of contracting COVID-19,” Monther said, then paused to add: “I respected her wishes.”

Monther patiently waited for his mother’s permission, and nearly one more year passed. Finally, the day came when he could reassure her that he would have personal protective equipment (PPE) – minimizing his exposure to COVID-19 and other deadly infectious diseases that are widespread in Yemen. With his mother’s blessing, Monther began working in the Al Sadakah isolation unit of Aden’s Al Sadakah hospital in April 2021.

“I have been working here for almost 5 months,” he said. “In not even the past 2 months we have received nearly 30 COVID-19 cases transferred from Al Jumhooria hospital. Some patients were very critical and barely recovered.” 

“As soon as a patient is admitted we provide all necessary health care, including medicines, oxygen, antibiotics and IV (intravenous) fluids,” Monther explained. “If their condition worsens they are rushed to the isolation unit so they can be stabilized if possible, and then discharged to the inpatient department for monitoring. Once they can be taken off oxygen and their breathing returns to normal, they can usually be discharged and return home.” 

Yemen’s conflict, now entering its seventh year, has led to human displacement, overcrowding, inadequate safe water and sanitation, and increased exposure to infectious and deadly diseases, including COVID 19. Frontline health workers like Monther have shouldered a disproportionate burden of the country’s fight against these diseases.

As of 31 August 2021, 8265 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3252 associated deaths have been reported. However, this number does not reflect the reality of actual COVID-19 cases that have been under-reported and are likely much higher.

“It is emotionally tough to see patients who are fighting to live, especially when they are admitted in very critical condition, and must have oxygen just to breathe. This makes us feel extremely anxious, and we try our best to keep them alive, until their condition is stabilized.”

WHO is partnering with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre to support infectious disease prevention measures in Yemen, including COVID-19 case management and provision of medicines and other essential medical supplies to 14 isolation units across the country. Distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) are also key to protecting the lives of health workers.

“I’m very happy that I have the PPE,” Monther said, recalling the promise he made to his mother. “It makes me feel much safer, so I can focus on the safety of my patients, and I can also assure my family that I am protected.” 

“I feel so proud to be on the frontline of this battle with COVID19, especially when I see that the patients are recovering and becoming safely healthy, and this feeling gives us the motivation to continue working and saving the lives pf patients”.

29 September 2021 – “Imagine a mother handing over her own child to you and saying, “This is my child, she is sick, please take care of her”, said Najat Saleh, a neonatal health specialist at the Al Sadakah hospital in Aden governorate. 

Najat began working at Al Sadakah hospital in 1986, joining its neonatal care department in early 2021. “As a mother, moving into this department I feel like I’m with my own children,” she said. “I try my best to care for them and to be worthy of the trust that their mothers place in me.” 

To improve the quality of care for babies born premature or sick, the WHO country office in Yemen, in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, has trained 94 neonatal care nurses and midwives from 19 district hospitals. The training focused on essential and life-saving care for newborns, especially in the most critical first hours after birth.

“We must provide intensive and urgent medical care to newborns with very weak immunity,” said Najat, one of the 94 health workers receiving this training, “This can start from the very first minutes after birth.”

“I learned how to monitor the babies’ vital signs and how to save their lives,” Dr Najat explained. “If their condition requires, we refer them directly to the incubators where they are given medications and oxygen until they stabilize.”

This training was the first of its kind in Yemen, and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2 target of ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births. Currently in Yemen, most recent data are from 2013, when 26 deaths per 1000 live births and conditions were reported. 

“I am now much more aware of the reasons why and how newborn children become sick, and the medications that must be given correctly, according to their weight,” said Dr Najat. 

“I am now much more aware of the reasons for why and how newborn children become sick, and the medications that must be given correctly, according to their weight,” Dr Najat. 

Al Sadakah hospital receives infants from Taiz, Al Dhalea and Hudyadah. Most critical cases are often received from rural villages and may require up to a month of continuous treatment and care until recovery.

 “This training is critical for us,” said Dr Mohammed Salim, a physician from Shabwah governorate. “I want to transfer the knowledge that I have gained to health workers especially in rural areas to save babies’ lives, including with cardiopulmonary resuscitation if critically needed.” 

“I want to transfer the knowledge that I have gained to health workers especially in rural areas to save babies’ lives, including with cardiopulmonary resuscitation if critically needed.” Dr Mohammed Salim.

This training is part of the Essential Health Services project funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. The project aims to provide quality and efficient health care services at 19 health facilities across Yemen. 

“I’m thankful for this opportunity,” concluded Dr Mohammed. “Now I can better care for babies to save more of their lives.” 

Al Sadaqa hospital, Aden. Thabit is one of the health care workers on the frontlines responding to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic

7 September 2021 – Thabit Ali is a health care worker at at Al Sadaqqa hospital in Aden, where he has been working for the past 4 years. When the hospital’s isolation unit became operational, Thabit was one of the first to begin working with COVID-19 patients. Much to his family’s concern, he insisted on helping patients in dire need of care.

“During the beginning of the pandemic, my family and I were concerned that my work required my close contact with people with COVID-19,” Thabit said. “But I chose to continue working, and I am glad I did. We continue to ensure infection prevention measures are in place, including PPE (personal protective equipment) and self-isolation measures.” 

As of 23 August 2021, 7509 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1418 associated deaths have been reported in Yemen. Yet the actual numbers of cases and deaths are under-reported and could be much higher. Other spreading infectious diseases, linked to Yemen’s ongoing conflict and a destroyed health infrastructure, present further major challenges to Thabit and other frontline health workers.

“I want to help patients feel safe and alleviate their emotional and physical suffering. The state of mind of the patient is critical, as it also can affect their physical well-being,” said Thabit.  

“There is a significant burden on public hospitals such as Al Sadaqqah, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of those challenges could be as simple as lacking oxygen, medicines and essential medical and non-medical supplies.” 

The COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Planning Project funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has been a cornerstone of the COVID-19 pandemic response led by WHO and the Health Cluster in Yemen, in coordination with health authorities.  This project has so far reached 4500 COVID-19 patients across the country with health services. In addition, capacity-building has been conducted for 170 health care workers and 28 isolation units are able to function with continued supplies of lifesaving medications, medical equipment and medical supplies to support the COVID-19 response. The project is also supporting COVID-19 testing laboratories with equipment and essential testing materials. 

“I would like to extend my gratitude on behalf of the hospital, the health workers and patients to WHO and KSrelief for the continued support to the COVID-19 response,” said Thabit. “They have provided us with ventilators, medical supplies and medicines. In addition, with supplies of PPE to protect health staff.”