In Yemen, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a catastrophic health crisis – compounding one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, and further straining a long-exhausted healthcare system that is simultaneously struggling to prepare for and respond to a continuous chain of other disease outbreaks.
Although the current number of reported COVID-19 cases in Yemen is 11,926, with 2,155 confirmed deaths to date, the actual numbers are under-reported and undoubtedly far higher. A prevailing lack of community awareness about COVID-19 and the necessity and safety of vaccines has strongly contributed to the spread of the virus and its toll on people’s lives.
In partnership with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany, WHO has focused on procuring and distributing new COVID-19 vaccines and supplies, and scaling up the capacities of Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) to test, diagnose, and vaccinate for COVID-19. This partnership is further enabling the MoPHP to better manage COVID-19 caseloads, and undertake health promotion activities in governments and districts controlled by the Internally Recognized Government (IRG). About 1,000 COVID-19 patients in hospital isolation units have also been aided with life-saving medical oxygen supplies.
To date, just under 415,000 persons in Yemen (5% of total population) are partially vaccinated against COVID-19, while 731,779 (9%) are fully vaccinated. These numbers fall well short of a vaccination goal of 2.4 million persons – or 30% of Yemen’s adult population – to achieve needed coverage by the end of 2022. This goal includes 90% coverage of all health care workers; 50% coverage of people with comorbid conditions; and over 30% coverage among elderly 60 years and above. Together with the Federal Republic of Germany partner BMZ, WHO has also supported the MoPHP to enhance its data management and monitoring of COVID-19, and to establish and staff vaccination sites with trained COVID-19 mobile vaccination teams. All progress made to date has depended heavily on thousands of Yemeni health care workers whose lives have been profoundly impacted and imperiled by COVID-19. One of them is Dr. Habiba Al Nahari, medical worker at Khormakser health facility in Aden.
“I try my best to raise awareness in the community about the importance of getting vaccinated. A growing number of people are seeking to get vaccinated, and this is a good sign,” said Dr. Al Nahari.
“One of the most important things that anyone can do during this pandemic is to seek information from credible sources about the vaccines, so they can protect themselves and their community from misinformation. As health workers, we also have the responsibility to use and advocate for personal protective equipment, to keep ourselves and our patients safe."
It was only after losing an unvaccinated colleague and friend to COVID19 that Dr Al-Nahari was herself persuaded to be vaccinated.
“My entire family has been vaccinated and we now feel safer," she said.
“A high level vaccination coverage rate of Yemeni adults is required to achieve adequate country-wide protection against COVID-19 infections and deaths – and everyone has a role to play in this pandemic.” Dr Al-Nahari explained.
"The vaccine protected us during the second and third waves of the pandemic, reducing the disease severity and making hospitalization less likely. As doctors, we must be effective advocates for the vaccine’s role in building natural body immunity to COVID19, and deliver awareness to every patient we attend to."
Story: Nesma Khan, Hanan Eshaq, Kevin Cook
Photos: Nesma Khan/ WHO