With continued support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing essential medicines, medical supplies, equipment, and training to eight high-priority hospitals in Yemen to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children under five.
Eight long years of grinding conflict has devastated Yemen’s economy, while widespread food shortages and soaring prices have pushed about half of the country's population of 31.6 million people into acute food insecurity. Of this number, 1.15 million children under age 5 are presently suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and another 540,000 children under 5 are suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) – with a direct risk of death.
Reema Salim Ahmed, a mother of four children, brought her five-month-old baby Mohammed to the WHO-supported therapeutic feeding center (TFC) at Ibn Khaldoon General Hospital in the southern Yemen city of Lahj. This hospital is one of eight that is prioritized by WHO for essential support to treat SAM cases.
Upon arriving to this hospital, Mohammed received emergency care to alleviate his vomiting and diarrhea. After examining Mohammed, doctors told Reema that he had severe acute malnutrition with medical complications. Immediate medical and nutritional care was provided with medication, therapeutic milk and close follow up, all at no cost to Reema.
“I have had great difficulty feeding my children – we are barely able to buy milk,” said Reema. “I visited another health center before coming here, but Mohammed’s condition didn’t improve. We came to this hospital because services are free, and they saved my child's life.. He has improved within a few days, and can now continue his treatment until he is fully recovered."
Ansam Abdel Fattah Mohammed, 25, is a mother of two infant twins who barely survived beyond their second month of life. Ansam brought them to the Ibn Khaldoon Hospital TFC with diarrhea. After a week of emergency medical and nutrition care at the center, their conditions stabilized and their recovery was assured.
"I have also received training on how to properly feed and care for my children. I will not let them become so malnourished and sick again, now that their condition has improved and their lives are saved,” said Ansam.
Commented Dr. Awsan Mohsen Salem, Director of the Nutrition Department at Ibn Khaldun Hospital: "Medical supplies and equipment are increasingly needed to support disease diagnosis. We don't have much of the equipment we need – some of it is old. Therefore, the support provided by WHO has been very beneficial for the hospital and the patients. WHO has helped us save many lives."
Story & Photos: WHO-Yemen