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Children battle preventable childhood diseases in Yemen as immunization coverage declines
24 October 2023, Sana’a, Yemen – Yemen is facing a significant drop in immunization rates among children. This decline continues to worsen owing to economic deterioration, low incomes, displacement, and overcrowded living conditions in camps, coupled with an overstretched health system. This has led to a resurgence and rise in vaccine-preventable diseases and associated deaths among children in Yemen.
Millions of children cannot be reached by routine immunization activities, and suspected cases of vaccine-preventable diseases have reached unprecedented levels. According to the WHO-UNICEF National Immunization Coverage Estimate for 2022, about one third (27%) of children aged under 1 year in Yemen are not immunized against measles and rubella. Nor have these children received the minimum remaining vaccines required for full protection.
From January to September 2023, 42 400 children in Yemen had measles, and there were 514 associated deaths. In addition, there were about 1400 diphtheria cases and 6000 cases of whooping cough among Yemen’s children.
The re-emergence in Yemen of poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1), in 2020, was soon followed by the re-emergence of poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), in 2021. This has put Yemen back on the world map of 35 countries currently afflicted by this debilitating and incurable disease. So far in 2023, there have been 928 suspected cases among Yemen’s children of acute flaccid paralysis, which can be caused by the poliovirus.
View Chart 1 in an interactive format“The pattern of immunization levels for all vaccines is declining, especially this year. This has direct and severe health implications for children and for Yemen’s future. The reduced demand by communities and parents for immunization will cause the spread of deadly childhood and infectious diseases, especially those that can be prevented by vaccines,” said Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Yemen.
“Yemen’s health system is already overstretched, yet it faces a rapid increase in health emergencies that is beyond its capacity,” added Dr Pesigan. “Health facilities can barely continue to provide basic health services. And with the shortage of international support, many facilities will be forced to shut down operations. This will put millions of vulnerable people in Yemen at imminent risk.”
WHO efforts in Yemen
WHO works closely with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population and health partners to increase support for routine vaccination interventions. WHO also continues to work within the National Health Framework to provide technical and financial support to improve immunization rates among children.
View Chart 2 in an interactive formatThese efforts include work to:
enhance national disease surveillance and data management, ensuring timely detection of cases;
maintain public health teams dedicated to vaccine-preventable diseases;
improve the quality and coverage rates of preventive and outbreak response campaigns;
support the implementation of the equity accelerator proposal to reduce the number of zero-dose children; and
implement integrated vaccination and outreach campaigns.
Since the re-emergence of cVDPV1 and cVDPV2, WHO has closely supported the Ministry of Public Health and Population to develop a polio outbreak response plan; implement outbreak response immunization activities; and intensify surveillance, advocacy and capacity-building efforts.
Learn more about Yemen’s Expanded Programme on Immunization.
For more information, visit: Yemen Health Emergency
Media contacts: WHO Yemen Communications,
About WHO: Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
The overlooked mental health crisis in Yemen
11 October 2023 ‒ In war-torn Yemen, mental health is often neglected. Limited access to mental health services means that only 120 000 of the estimated 7 million people in need of such support receive help.
Aisha’s story
Aisha Mohammed, a 38-year-old with disabilities, has faced lifelong challenges with speaking and hearing. These difficulties led to her depression, causing her to isolate herself from society. Her sister, Azhar, who shared Aisha’s story, would long to see her sister smile and engage easily in conversations.
Azhar shared that Aisha’s mental health struggles began in childhood but worsened over time. Despite her family’s efforts to provide a normal life, a traumatic incident at school, in which a teacher insulted and mistreated Aisha, triggered severe depression and social withdrawal. This incident had a profound and lasting impact on Aisha’s physical and mental health.
At first, Aisha’s family thought that what she was going through was solely physical in nature. They sought medical help, but doctors confirmed that her hearing impairment was untreatable. They provided medical earphones, but Aisha broke them during depressive episodes, and the family was unable to afford replacements.
Aisha’s connection to her mother, who provided comfort, was irreplaceable; when her mother died, this deepened Aisha’s depression. Despite her concern for her sister, Azhar hesitated to seek help owing to the fear of community stigma. But after consulting a doctor, she decided to bring Aisha to a WHO-supported mental health unit.
Aisha’s diagnosis of depression led to 4 mental and psychological support sessions, followed by her enrolment in sign language courses at the Deaf and Dumb Association. Here, she discovered others facing similar challenges, and realized that she was not alone.
Two months of seeking mental health support transformed Aisha. She began to make friends and eagerly attend classes, and her communication skills improved significantly.
Azhar shared her joy in witnessing her sister’s transformation. Aisha, once withdrawn and noncommunicative, now aspires to be positive, active and ambitious, bringing a newfound spirit to the family home.
Millions of people in Yemen face the trauma and socioeconomic pressures of 9 years of conflict with limited services
10 October 2023, Sana’a, Yemen – While some health issues are evident, others remain unseen. The focus of health actors on risks that lead directly to death has kept the attention away from mental health risks. Yet mental health conditions have severe consequences for communities.
The need for mental health and psychosocial support is rapidly increasing. People in Yemen are suffering from trauma and problems exacerbated by violence, displacement, unemployment, hunger and poverty. Such health needs remain among the most culturally stigmatized and least prioritized. The Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 indicates that only 120 000 of the 7 million people reported to require mental health treatment and support have uninterrupted access to these services.
“The country’s pre- and post-conflict health system struggles to integrate mental health services into the public health structure. It is also unable to provide adequate support or obtain thorough data owing to cultural stigma,” said Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen. “The community, on the other hand, especially adults and elderly people, have increasing needs yet are faced with unavailable services and social rejection.”
A study on mental health conditions among Yemen’s population was carried out in 2019 by EPOS Consulting and Health Services, with the support of the European Commission and in partnership with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population. This study, which represented 42% of the Yemeni population, found that post-traumatic stress disorder was the mental health condition with the highest rate of prevalence (45%) among Yemen’s people. This was followed by depression (27%), anxiety (25%), schizophrenia (18%) and phobia (4%).
These rates are met with limited to no access to specialized services, and limited social acceptance of the conditions, especially in hard-to-reach areas and groups. People are left to handle their trauma on their own. This includes women, children and other vulnerable groups.
In regard to children, the ongoing interrupted access to quality education remains a concern in terms of the cognitive and emotional development, as well as mental health, of 10.76 million school-aged girls and boys in Yemen.
In 2022, the Ministry of Public Health and Population, with support from WHO, finalized the National Mental Health Strategy (NMHS) 2022–2026. NMHS supports the development and integration of curative and preventive mental health services that will ensure comprehensive access for all. Since then, WHO has supported the establishment and rehabilitation of 47 mental health units, across many of Yemen’s governorates, to ensure the availability of safe services for communities.
For more information visit: Yemen Health Emergency
Media contacts: WHO Yemen Communications:
About WHO: Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
WHO and UNICEF collaborate on emergency integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign in 13 governorates in Yemen
23 September 2023, Aden, Yemen – The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Aden, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), is set to implement a measles-rubella, vitamin A and COVID-19 integrated vaccination campaign. This joint effort aims to combat the ongoing outbreaks and spread of measles and rubella in Yemen.
The 6-day integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign kicked off on the morning of Saturday 23 September 2023 and will target 1 267 082 children aged 6 to 59 months across 121 districts in 13 governorates. The campaign will integrate COVID-19 vaccinations for the high-priority group in fixed and temporary fixed sites. A total of 3025 medical teams, consisting of 847 fixed teams and 2178 mobile teams, will be deployed for a minimum of 6 days.
Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen, and Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen, expressed their commitment to this joint effort. Dr Pesigan stated, “Our commitment to Yemen’s children is unwavering, and we stand united with the government to strengthen the immunization programme as a cornerstone of primary health care on our path to achieving universal health coverage.”
WHO Yemen and UNICEF Yemen are working closely with the Government of Yemen, partners and communities to guarantee the success of this integrated effort. By bringing together their efforts and resources, WHO and UNICEF strive to enhance vaccine coverage, protect vulnerable communities and prevent future outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen, warned: “Measles can kill, but vaccinating children against measles will save their lives. The vaccine is safe and is effective”. Hawkins continued to call upon everyone to “join in and make sure that every child between 6 months and 5 years of age is vaccinated”.
The campaign is made possible with the generous support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the United States Agency for International Development; and the World Bank. Their assistance enables UNICEF Yemen, WHO Yemen and the Government of Yemen to strengthen routine immunization, reduce the number of zero-dose children, protect vulnerable populations and prevent future outbreaks of these diseases.]
This campaign’s integration of measles and rubella vaccines and vitamin A supplementation with COVID-19 vaccinations shows a comprehensive approach to public health. By tackling numerous diseases at the same time, the campaign aims to optimize its impact and contribute to Yemen’s general health and well-being.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit the UNICEF Yemen website.
About WHO
WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. Our goal is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being. For more information, visit the WHO Yemen website.
For more information, please contact:
Shatha Al-Eryani, WHO Yemen,
Kamal Al-Wazizah, UNICEF Yemen,
