Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
Reproductive health is a fundamental human right for both women and men, essential for individual and community health and safety. In Yemen, this is even more critical due to the ongoing conflict’s humanitarian crisis, which has severely damaged the healthcare system, including reproductive health services.
The dire situation—worsening health conditions, poverty, and health problems due to lack of awareness and medical services—demands urgent improvements in reproductive healthcare. This requires international intervention from specialized organizations to boost overall health services.
International and local organizations play a vital role in improving Yemen’s reproductive health services. They address significant gaps caused by conflict and humanitarian crises by providing financial, logistical, and technical support to local health authorities, improving healthcare, especially for women and children.
These organizations also run health awareness programs and initiatives to educate communities about reproductive health, preventative care, family planning, and maternal and child healthcare—though experts note challenges hindering the sustainability and effectiveness of these efforts given the current situation.
The Organizations’ Role
A June 4, 2020, UN report “WHO and UNFPA Ensure Life-Saving Reproductive Health Services in Yemen” details how the WHO, working with UNFPA and supported by the UAE, strengthened 103 health facilities across 17 Yemeni governorates from October 2019-February 2020.
These efforts protected around 200,000 women and girls by providing essential reproductive healthcare, with over 60,000 receiving family planning services.
The UN report highlighted that thanks to international intervention, about 74,000 women safely gave birth in Yemen during that period, and over 4,000 successful C-sections were performed. The report stressed that continued support from international organizations and donors is vital to maintaining essential health services for women and girls.
UNFPA acknowledges that around 6 million women of reproductive age need healthcare, and over 1 million pregnant and breastfeeding women suffer from malnutrition—highlighting the scale of the health crisis.
A 2024 UNICEF report titled “UNICEF and WHO Build Capacity of 200 General Practitioners in Yemen” notes that UNICEF and WHO conducted a 35-day training program for 200 doctors in Yemeni health facilities, focusing on quality care, including reproductive and newborn health, funded by the World Bank.
Dr. Taqwa Bazanboor, Head of the Health Department at the Human Access Association for Partnership and Development (Al-Mukalla branch), explains that one of the association’s core goals is community health and social welfare, with reproductive health being integral. For over 33 years, they have supported women’s reproductive health and increased awareness.
She highlights projects like supporting reproductive health services across 7 governorates and 15 health facilities, focusing on reproductive health awareness and integrated healthcare for women of reproductive age and pregnant women.
Dr. Fatima Al-Aidaroos, Director of Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health’s Hadhramaut Coast office, emphasizes the importance of family planning and promoting birth spacing to improve maternal and child health. These services are free in all health facilities and supported by UNFPA.
She added, “Prenatal care is also a top priority for the department; we monitor women from the start of their pregnancy until the first few months after delivery, and we also monitor the baby’s condition. We also run lots of training programs for healthcare workers—it’s a key part of improving the quality of services we offer.”
She pointed out that the Reproductive Health Department on the Hadhramaut coast gets support from several international organizations and external partners for various projects, both in Mukalla city and in the districts of the Hadhramaut coast. The department also receives support for specific projects from USAID, UNICEF, and UNFPA, which is a main partner and supporter of reproductive health and emergency obstetric medicines across Yemen.
In this context, Sila Organization for Development trained 70 community midwives in three districts of Hadhramaut Governorate (Al-Dhali’ya, Yib’ath, and Ghail Bin Yamin). This program aims to boost reproductive health services in rural areas and provide trained personnel to meet the needs of these districts. Ali Bashammakh, the organization’s executive director, told Women in Development and Peace newspaper that this initiative is crucial for improving the level of reproductive healthcare in local communities.
Activities and Programs (Human Access Association as an Example)
Dr. Bazanboor mentioned that some of the most important current programs include a partnership with UNFPA, which includes a project supporting reproductive health services at 15 health facilities. A reproductive health voucher program in 7 governorates also improves access to essential health services.
She also highlighted Human Access Association’s role in supporting reproductive health through a similar project aimed at providing emergency obstetric services and prenatal care, along with counseling and awareness-raising activities to promote understanding of reproductive health concepts.
She added, “One of the success stories the association is proud of is its contribution to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, even eliminating it in some governorates. The association also boosted awareness of the importance of pregnant mothers receiving healthcare services at health facilities during pregnancy and childbirth. Human Access Association supports six health facilities in Hadhramaut Governorate, with around 5,500 beneficiaries of reproductive health services per month.”
She continued, “The service is provided by a qualified healthcare team consisting of doctors, midwives, nurses, and lab technicians. We train them to develop their skills and abilities. In 2023, nearly 13,843 women in Hadhramaut Governorate benefited from reproductive health services.”
Despite these significant successes, the association faces many challenges, most notably the difficulty of reaching remote areas and the need to build a solid foundation for reproductive health in the region to ensure effective service delivery. The increasing demand for services also puts a strain on the supported facilities, a strong indicator that the need remains significant.
International and local organizations play a vital role in promoting reproductive health in Yemen, both directly and indirectly. These organizations have improved reproductive health in both urban and rural areas by establishing health facilities and centers, providing necessary medicines, and training specialized personnel.
This cooperation and direct intervention have helped reduce the harm women and girls experience during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Given the difficult circumstances the country is facing, the role of organizations and donors has become vital in strengthening Yemen’s healthcare and improving the lives of women and children.