Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO Director-General 5 March 2020 –The World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have signed a joint cooperation agreement for US$ 10.5 million further bolstering malaria prevention and control efforts across Yemen. The agreement was signed during the recent humanitarian conference in Riyadh, this is the second time the conference convened dignitaries from all over the world to discuss humanitarian response support and the development nexus.

Today, Yemen accounts for 17% of the regional malaria burden. In the war-torn country, a total of 18.2 million people are at risk of malaria. In 2019, Yemen reported almost 203 062 malaria cases in public health facilities; however, the estimated number of malaria cases by WHO is noted at 842 226 cases. The governorates of Al Hudaydah, Hajja, Aden, and Taizz report the highest numbers of cases with incidence rate at 8.5 confirmed cases per 1000.

“As a result of this generous support from KSrelief, WHO will be able to continue the fight against malaria and focus on building response capacities in the areas of clinical case management focused on training health care providers to effectively manage and treat cases, and vector control to stop the spread of the disease in communities”, said Altaf Musani, WHO Representative in Yemen. Preparedness efforts will also be scaled-up — surveillance strengthening and establishing a total of 7 febrile treatment centres in Aden, Lahj, Taizz, Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Shabwa and Hadhramout is in the plan as well as training of 1000 health workers to improve malaria and dengue preparedness and response.

3 March 2020 – After 5 years of taking care of patients, Radeah found herself on the other side of the fence, suffering from renal failure. Since her diagnosis three years ago, she has had to quit her work as a nurse. She now comes to hospital not to treat patients, but rather receive treatment for her illness—with dialysis sessions twice weekly. 

“I have lost 3 of my friends to renal failure and I don’t want to be next, this is why I am grateful for these sessions. When I was diagnosed with this disease, I knew that I could lose my life. I am always afraid that the dialysis equipment would stop working during my session, because if that ever happened, they would have to insert a catheter from my neck, which is very dangerous and painful,” Radeeah says. 

The burden of renal failure is agonizing, with the loom of death hovering over patients experiencing renal failure. “I don’t think anyone knows what it is like to suffer from this. You lose everything. Your body cannot cope, so you lose your job. The pain is so severe that you get depressed, feeling hopeless. When I found out that I had renal failure, it felt like my life was taken from me, these sessions have given me hope,” says Tamer. 

Tamer is a 37-year-old pharmacist who used to work days and nights for many private companies, but when he was diagnosed with renal failure, he had to stop working — his body become so frail, he could no long function normally. 

The process of going through dialysis treatment requires a lifestyle overhaul for most patients. Their lives now revolve around dialysis sessions they need twice weekly — without which they could die. 

Three years ago, Hassan also lost his livelihood after being diagnosed with renal failure. “Before the illness, I was running my own business. I had to stop because of my weekly dialysis sessions that always leave me feeling weak. And although I feel weak, at least I am still alive,” says Hassan. 

Since losing his business, Hassan has had to take his 7 children to Raimah, to stay with relatives. The cost of supporting them in the capacity city of Sana’a was too much. “Although it is difficult for me to live in Sana’a alone, especially with my condition, this is the cruelty of my current situation. I rely on donations from family and friends to sustain us and I count on these dialysis sessions to keep me alive”.

Thousands of renal failure patients in Yemen could face a fatal fate, if dialysis treatment is not secured. Their survival depends on unfettered access to uninterrupted treatment. 

“I am grateful that these sessions are free of charge. I couldn’t afford them otherwise,” concluded Tamer. 

In 2019, WHO, with support from King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Center (KSRelief), United Arab Emirates Aid, and Kuwait, managed to provide dialysis supplies to support 21 dialysis centres by 600 000 dialysis sessions in 13 governorates (Amanat Al Asimah, Aden, Taiz, Sana'a, Sa’adah, Ma’rib, Shabowa, Hadramout, Dhamar, Al Bidha, Ibb, Hudaydah, and Al Mahrah) to cover the urgent need of more than 3500 patients requiring life-saving dialysis sessions to ensure continued treatment. 

27 February 2020 – In a health centre called the 26th September, 50-year-old Mariam fought for her life as cholera and heart disease ravaged her body. Mariam was rushed to the health centre after suffering from severe watery diarrhoea, dehydration and hypertension.

“She was shaking uncontrollably, and I was terrified to lose her especially as she also suffers from heart disease,” said Waheed, Mariam’s young son.

Two days have passed since Mariam was hospitalized, now she is receiving treatment for cholera.

“I had suspicions that my mother had cholera. I was infected with cholera 2 years ago, so I understood the symptoms, this is why I rushed her to the same health centre where I was treated successfully,” Waheed added.