Transforming Healthcare in Yemen
In war-torn Yemen, more than 1,000 children under the age of five die from malnutrition and vaccine preventable diseases every day—amounting to one child every 10 minutes. The situation is particularly dire in Yemen’s remote AlHudaydah and Taiz governorates, where a grant from the Astellas Global Health Foundation for International Medical Corps is supporting essential health services, including vaccinations and screening for malnutrition.
Conditions in these communities are harsh. Families are struggling to access safe water and the soaring food prices have pushed even basic necessities out of reach. Years of relentless conflict have ravaged healthcare and sanitation infrastructure, leaving local communities vulnerable to preventable diseases and conditions such as cholera, diphtheria, diarrhea, malnutrition and anemia.
Ramadanah Al Ahdal—a lifelong resident of Al Saba’a village in the AlHudaydah governorate and one of the 54 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) supported by the grant from the Astellas Global Health Foundation—understands these challenges well. In May 2024, Ramadanah received training in social and behavioral change communication, a strategic approach designed to promote positive behaviors that are crucial for achieving public health goals. This specialized training equipped Ramadanah with the skills and knowledge she needs to make a profound impact in her community. By educating her neighbors about the critical importance of vaccinations and the fundamentals of health maintenance, such as adequate nutrition, handwashing and proper waste disposal, Ramadanah is addressing immediate health needs while driving positive long-term change in her community.
Shortly after completing her training, Ramadanah visited Anhar Abdo, a fellow mother from Al Saba’a
village whose children were unvaccinated, largely due to widespread misconceptions about vaccine
safety. During their one-hour session, Ramadanah provided Anhar with essential education about
vaccines and the diseases they treat as well as reassurance, helping her overcome her fear about the
safety of vaccines.
Following Ramadanah's visit, Anhar confidently had her daughter vaccinated against measles and polio. Her
son, who had previously suffered from measles, was vaccinated against polio. This change of heart
proved critical to both Anhar’s mindset and her family’s health, when just weeks later, Anhar's daughter
contracted measles but only experienced mild symptoms, which was a stark contrast to her son, who had suffered severely from the disease a year earlier.
Due to Anhar’s positive experience, she plans to continue participating in vaccination campaigns,
significantly shifting her approach to healthcare. “This simple activity changed our lives,” Anhar stated as
she expressed her gratitude for her newfound ability to protect her family’s health.
“Thanks to the support of the Astellas Global Health Foundation, efforts by International Medical Corps, and the dedication and resilience of community members like Ramadanah and Anhar, the face of healthcare in Yemen is changing”, says Brian Scheel, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships at International Medical Corps. “We are grateful for Astellas Global Health Foundation’s support of this life-saving work, which has set Anhar and her family—and over 14,000 people like them—on a path toward a healthier and more resilient future. ”