Lack of safe water and sanitation has led to deadly disease outbreaks in Yemen, including the 2016 cholera epidemic, the largest ever recorded. Hospitals and medical clinics are particularly vulnerable, with some 70% lacking proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure.
Like many medical facilities in Yemen, the Hawf Health Centre in Al-Mahrah governorate lacked an incinerator for safe disposal of dangerous medical waste.
"Some of the hospital's medical waste is biohazardous with sharp objects and infectious substances. It can threaten the health of people and animals, and it emits foul odors." – Dr Hassan Nasib, manager at the Hawf Health Centre.
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) joined forces to improve WASH infrastructure at the 45 health facilities most urgently in need of renovation. Since then, water storage, water connections, bathrooms, toilets, hand-washing facilities, and sewerage have been repaired. Environmental hygiene has been improved, and at 25 facilities, incinerators for medical waste were constructed.
The 45 health facilities targeted by the programme serve more than a half million people throughout Yemen. Now, with these major upgrades, patients say they feel more comfortable and secure at the facilities. Some health centres have seen an increase in the number of people served.
"The bathroom and sinks were dilapidated and unsightly before the WASH rehabilitation. Since then, there has been a significant difference. Even the performance of the health facility has improved." – Nabilah Al-Hakemi, 34, laboratory worker at the Al-Sonaynah Health Centre in Sana'a.
Story by Nancy Nusser/WHO. Photos by Gabreez Production.