Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
Reproductive health is a vital issue directly impacting women’s lives, especially in developing countries like Yemen. Yemeni women face significant health challenges due to weak medical services and infrastructure, leading to high maternal and child mortality rates. Conflict, poverty, and political instability are key factors contributing to the deterioration of reproductive health.
Because young people are the main drivers of change and development in society, their insights are crucial for developing appropriate health policies that improve reproductive health in Yemen, overcome difficulties, and propose solutions to improve healthcare access and provide comprehensive and safe health services for women.
This report will highlight young people’s views on reproductive health services in Yemen, focusing on their assessment of the quality and efficiency of these services, as well as their suggestions for improvement to meet the needs of Yemeni women now and in the future.
Young People’s Opinions on Health Centers
Community midwife Awadha Qaid in a displacement camp in Taiz Governorate believes that the current state of health centers is poor and doesn’t provide necessary care, especially in displacement areas. Basic health resources aren’t available to all displaced people, and many women lack access to essential reproductive healthcare services. This exposes pregnant women, children, and the sick to infectious diseases like cholera, malnutrition, and diphtheria, which are prevalent in camps.
She added that the health situation in Yemen, whether in displacement camps or cities and rural areas, faces significant challenges due to ongoing conflict, economic downturn, and high poverty rates. This creates a breeding ground for epidemics and diseases, making displaced people and other marginalized groups vulnerable to multiple health risks. The lack of resources in health centers to provide basic care for women and breastfeeding mothers contributes to high maternal mortality rates.
Health professional Fahima Abdul-Rahman highlights the major challenges facing the reproductive health sector in Hadhramaut and Yemen in general. Rural and remote areas particularly lack essential health facilities, including basic medical equipment, medications, and supplies like family planning resources and reproductive treatments, which are not readily available. There’s also a shortage of trained medical personnel.
She continues, “Besides weak infrastructure, there’s a lack of community awareness about the importance of reproductive health and access to available services. Early marriage further worsens women’s health, posing a significant health risk to girls during pregnancy and childbirth, whether in rural, remote areas or cities. The ongoing conflict exacerbates these challenges, hindering access to healthcare and efforts to improve health infrastructure and services.”
Arwa Al-Saqqaf, a medical student, points out that while health centers may exist in cities and some districts, they’re insufficient to handle the large numbers of people or the variety of cases. There’s also a shortage of healthcare professionals trained in reproductive health, sometimes leading to substandard services. Women are forced to rely on unqualified midwives due to a lack of alternatives. The absence of integrated women’s care means women don’t receive comprehensive check-ups or sufficient education during and after pregnancy, increasing the risks of complications, especially in rural areas with limited access to healthcare.
Reproductive Health and its Challenges
Awadha Qaid explains that reproductive healthcare in displacement camps faces huge challenges directly impacting women’s lives. Camps lack clinics for emergencies and life-saving care. The lack of healthcare support leaves women vulnerable to STIs and increases risks from unplanned pregnancies and abortions, especially among young girls due to early marriage. Safe abortion services are scarce, putting many women at serious risk, and basic women’s needs are unmet.
Awadha has worked hard to raise health awareness in Taiz Governorate’s displacement camps. She focuses on health education, reproductive health awareness, preventive measures, supporting natural childbirth, and early detection of complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. She trains women on handling pregnancy emergencies and the importance of regular checkups, empowering them to understand reproductive health basics and protect themselves and their children.
Fahima Abdul-Rahman confirms that the ongoing conflict severely impacts healthcare access, particularly in conflict zones or frontline areas, making reproductive health even more fragile. The severe lack of funding and resources, including medicines, equipment, and specialized personnel, is worsened by international organizations cutting aid.
She adds, “Lack of awareness and community education is a major challenge. Knowledge of reproductive health is lacking, especially in rural areas with high illiteracy, and ignorance of health risks for women and girls is widespread. This creates a huge gap in reproductive healthcare, increasing the likelihood of serious complications. We need to support efforts to raise awareness and provide comprehensive, sustainable healthcare services.”
Improving the Quality of Services
To improve Yemen’s reproductive healthcare, Fahima recommends increased international funding and support from international organizations and donor governments to ensure the continuation and expansion of services—providing medicines and establishing new health centers in rural areas. Campaigns targeting all age groups should promote understanding of reproductive health, including improving negative societal beliefs. More local medical personnel need training and qualification to ensure sustainable services.
Arwa Al-Saqqaf believes it’s crucial to boost the role of health centers, especially in rural and remote areas, and focus on teaching young men and women how to provide essential reproductive health services. This should be done through school and college curricula, and by working together to improve the country’s overall health. Without this improvement, all visions will crumble. The state and relevant bodies shouldn’t use conflict and the current situation as an excuse for inaction. They must act to find avenues and partnerships with donors to support the development of the health sector at all levels.
She pointed out that future goals include supporting and empowering women leaders in health facilities, which significantly contribute to improving women’s reproductive health. Additionally, safe and easy access to health centers needs to be ensured, requiring infrastructure improvement and transport planning to guarantee women can access healthcare without obstacles.
She added, “We need to encourage community support for improving reproductive health by raising awareness of the importance of these services and educating people about women’s health rights. Partnerships with international organizations can provide funding and expertise to improve healthcare services. These efforts must be coupled with on-the-ground monitoring and evaluation of health facilities to ensure ongoing development and effective programs.”
She believes achieving these goals requires collective cooperation and effective stakeholder contributions. This will improve reproductive health services and produce positive results for women and families in Yemen.
Improving reproductive health in Yemen requires a collective effort and integration among all actors. This effort should begin within the community, through awareness and education which plays a crucial role in changing beliefs and behaviors related to reproductive health. Cooperation with relevant bodies, such as the Ministry of Health and governmental organizations, is necessary to ensure appropriate policies and allocate the necessary resources. Effective donor organizations can provide funding, expertise, and logistical support to improve health services. Through this comprehensive collaboration, tangible improvements in reproductive health can be achieved, improving healthcare for women and girls in Yemen and enhancing their quality of life.