Barran Press
The Yemeni government, recognized internationally, has warned of a potential collapse of the country’s healthcare system due to a significant reduction in international funding. On Sunday, August 4, 2024, Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak convened a government meeting in Aden, the temporary capital, to address the crisis.
The meeting focused on the challenges posed by the decline in international funding for the health sector and the urgent interventions needed to sustain healthcare delivery and prevent a potential humanitarian catastrophe.
Bin Mubarak instructed the formation of a ministerial committee to develop a strategic plan, outlining the health sector's needs, required international interventions, implementation responsibilities, and timelines.
He urged international and regional partners to renew their vital and continuous support for health services to overcome the current challenges and avert a potential humanitarian disaster.
During the meeting, the Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Qasim Buhaibeh, presented a report on the urgent response to the reduction in support from health sector partners, its consequences, and proposed alternatives.
The report highlighted the catastrophic impact of the international reduction on the health sector, affecting millions of citizens. It warned that over 1,000 healthcare facilities could be forced to close, putting the lives of 500,000 women at risk of death and depriving 600,000 children of immunization and healthcare services. The report also emphasized the weakened ability to combat various epidemics.
The Minister of Health stressed the importance of all health development partners recognizing the need for continued support to strengthen the health system and improve services for citizens.
The meeting discussed alternative funding proposals, the required coordination with Yemen's partners from countries and organizations to bridge the funding gap in the health sector, and the complementary roles at the government level to ensure the sustainability of healthcare delivery.
On July 17, 2024, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that a Yemeni woman dies every two hours during pregnancy or childbirth due to lack of access to reproductive health services. The UNFPA added that Yemen is experiencing a "high rate of preventable maternal deaths."
In a tweet on July 10, the UNFPA highlighted that "approximately 5.5 million women have limited or no access to reproductive health services."
On July 10, the internationally recognized Yemeni government announced a 70% decrease in international funding for the health sector, warning of the collapse of the health sector in Yemen due to the reduction in funding.