UNICEF Yemen: Shadiah’s Journey: A Mother’s Fight for Survival in Rural Yemen

In the rugged mountains of Taiz, where roads are more than rocky trails and healthcare is hours away, life is a daily struggle. The United Nations estimates that over half of Yemen’s population - more than 19 million people- need humanitarian assistance. For mothers like Shadiah, the challenges are immense.

Shadiah is a young woman from the remote village of Azzitan in Taiz, where “everything is far- the road, the hospital, everything.” When she became pregnant, her joy was overshadowed by fear. “I was worried every day,” she recalls. “If I hadn’t gone to the hospital as Bardees recommended, I would have died.”

Before the community health worker, Bardees arrived, Shadiah and her neighbors had little knowledge about health or hygiene. “Before Bardees, we didn’t know how to care for ourselves nor for our children. We didn’t know what to do if we got sick,” she says.

“Before Bardees, we didn’t know how to care for ourselves nor for our children. We didn’t know what to do if we got sick,” Shadiah says.

A Pregnancy Filled with Uncertainty

Shadiah’s pregnancy was marked by uncertainty and isolation. “I had no one to ask about my health,” she explains. “I did not know what to eat or what to do. My family did not know either. People here don’t go to school. We are uneducated.”

In her village, many women give birth at home, without professional medical help. “No one can reach the hospital quickly here. If one gets sick at night, they will have to wait until morning,” she says. The harsh environment only adds to the struggle: “the road is so rough, and it takes hours to walk anywhere. If you are pregnant, you cannot walk far. If you are sick, it is even harder.”

Shadiah’s story is not unique. Across Yemen, thousands of women and children face the same risks every day.

Bardees Brings Hope and Knowledge

When Bardees, a trained and deployed community health worker, started visiting Shadiah’s village, everything began to change. Bardees’ visits were more than just medical check-ups. She educated Shadiah and other women about hygiene, breastfeeding, and the importance of vaccinations. “She came every week when I was pregnant. She continued to do the same after I gave birth. She checked my blood pressure, told me what to eat. We did not even know how to wash our hands properly. Now, we know how to keep ourselves and our children safe from diseases.” Bardees became Shadiah’s lifeline.

A Race Against Time

Days after Shadiah gave birth, she began to feel very ill. “I had a high fever and my head was spinning,” she says. Bardees arrived quickly and recognized the danger. “She told me: ‘you need to go to the health center now. You could die if you wait.” With Bardees’ help, Shadiah was taken to the nearest health center, hours away.

At the center, Shadiah received urgent care. “The doctors helped me and my baby,” she says. “They gave me medicine and watched over me. I was so relieved.” Thanks to the quick action of Bardees and the health workers, Shadiah and her baby survived.

Community Health Workers Network: A Life-Saving Initiative for Mothers and Children

UNICEF supported the establishment of the network in partnership with Yemen’s Health authorities. Both organizations recognized the initiative’s potential to restore the structure of the country’s health system and improve life for thousands of mothers and children living in hard-to-reach areas. An early priority was to ensure the mobility of community health workers and the accessibility of primary health services in 108 rural districts. Today, each community health worker is responsible for providing services to around 1,000 people at their homes.

Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in strengthening Yemen’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to epidemic threats. Their work is central to reinforcing disease prevention, detection, and early warning systems at the community level, helping to identify potential outbreaks early and report them through established health channels.

Community health workers network is part of a broader effort to enhance multisectoral workforce capacities, including training and equipping them to respond effectively during health emergencies.

The Power of Donors: Saving Lives in Remote Yemen

This story is a powerful testament to the impact of donor support. As Bardees explains, “Regarding this project, it is considered the only hope in these remote areas where people cannot reach clinics or hospitals.” She adds, “Regarding the network of health workers, we are the first line of defense, and here we are the unknown soldiers in these areas where help does not reach.”

Thanks to funding from the World Bank, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the European Union, the Pandemic Fund, Denmark, and Canada for these projects, UNICEF can continue to support the expansion of basic healthcare services for children and women in Yemen’s most remote communities.

A Hopeful Future

Shadiah’s story is a reminder that even in the most remote corners of the world, compassion and commitment can save lives—and that every mother deserves the chance to raise her child in health and dignity. “I am alive today because of the help I received,” Shadiah says. “My child is alive because someone cared. Thank you for not forgetting us.”