IOM YEMEN: YEMEN’S FIGHT AGAINST CHOLERA - Overcoming Health Barriers and Building Resilience

Shabwah, Yemen 

Every day, Mohammed wakes up at dawn and ventures into the deep seas off Shabwah in search of what could be his day’s wage or his family’s only meal.

Mohammed learned the trade from a young age, inheriting the knowledge of the sea from his ancestors, generation after generation. Despite his love for the sea, the proud fisherman has struggled to provide for his family of nine, a challenge made even more difficult when one of his children fell ill.

Located far from the main city, the community in Hawra faced a daunting 50-kilometre journey to reach the nearest medical centre. This trip represented a dreadful quest for most villagers, who could neither afford the transportation fees nor the medical expenses.

“When one of our people gets sick, it becomes a heavy burden to provide them with the needed health care.

Some families have no choice but to be separated from their loved ones for days in search of medical assistance, putting additional strain on their financial situation.”

HEALTH EMERGENCY

Grappling with its tenth year of conflict, Yemen faced the largest cholera outbreak in recent history between 2016 and 2022, with over 2.5 million suspected cases and 4,000 deaths. The latest wave has already seen over 30,000 suspected cases since the beginning of the year.

Cases surged notably among the most vulnerable groups in Shabwah, who have limited to no access to essential health services. The situation was further aggravated by heavy rains and subsequent flooding, which contributed to the spread of cholera. Mohammed witnessed a woman lose her life on the way to the nearest centre because the road was cut off by floods.

Responding to this urgent need, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the reopening of the Hawra Health Centre in Shabwah, bringing renewed hope to Mohammed and his community. The centre was designed to address a wide range of health concerns, with cholera being one of the primary focuses.

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

IOM’s efforts to combat cholera extended beyond mere provision of medical services; the team mobilized community volunteers to raise awareness. These volunteers have dedicated themselves to assisting communities in managing the outbreak.

“I was deeply moved by the suffering of our people, so I decided to become a health worker to help my community,” explains Jamila Abdullah, an IOM volunteer in Shabwah.

Throughout the cholera outbreak, their primary objectives included providing essential healthcare services, improving community health literacy, and promoting public health practices. Through their unwavering support, the volunteers have significantly contributed to overall health guidance.

Changing community practices and establishing new behaviours was a challenging task, but the volunteers persevered. Through door-to-door visits, they encouraged families to adopt activities that would protect their health and well-being and fostered a sense of collective responsibility.

The teams began their volunteering experience at Hawra Health Centre, the sole health facility in the region. However, the cholera outbreak extended beyond the population of Hawra village and impacted migrants who face significant challenges in accessing basic healthcare. To address these needs, IOM enlisted the support of its mobile medical teams present along key migration routes.

PREPAREDNESS STRATEGY

In close collaboration with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population and local health offices, IOM has continuously expanded its efforts to provide immediate aid to areas affected by widespread cholera and acute watery diarrhea (AWD). 

IOM’s comprehensive preparedness and response strategy ensures that treatment centers also have Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to prevent infection transmission among patients and medical staff. Given the significant risks of contaminated water, IOM supplies vulnerable communities with automatic chlorinators, water treatment chemicals, and cholera and hygiene kits.

IOM’s hygiene team supported the distribution of cholera kits and conducted enhanced hygiene promotion to increase understanding and adoption of hygienic practices. Water treatment has proven instrumental in reducing the number of cholera outbreaks in affected communities.

“Cholera has claimed many lives around here. Now that we have a health centre in the area, I feel much more confident about my family’s safety when I’m away at sea.” — Mohammed

HOPE RESTORED

At Hawra Health Center, volunteers addressed immediate health concerns, particularly cholera, in their community. They have not only initiated positive changes to enhance healthcare for vulnerable groups but also instilled a sense of hope and resilience across the community.

Since the outbreak, health and hygiene volunteers have been tirelessly providing essential healthcare services and educational sessions to women, children and men who had long lacked access to such services. Their dedication to assisting people extends beyond regular working hours, as they continue to support people seeking help even late into the night.

Over time, through collaborative and sustained efforts to combat cholera, significant progress has been made in bridging the gap in healthcare services for host communities and migrants in Shabwah. The access to healthcare services has not only laid a foundation for a healthier future but also strengthened the community’s sense of security.

FOOTNOTESIOM’s cholera response in Yemen is supported by the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF).