Yemen's internationally recognized Minister of Public Health and Population, Qasim Buhaibeh, met with the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Yemen, Dr. Arturo Bisiguan, on Thursday, August 15, 2024, to discuss health-related matters and strengthen coordination between the ministry and the organization.

According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the meeting focused on "the importance of preparing the health sector for various health emergencies, including the declaration of monkeypox as a global health emergency due to its spread in Africa. This includes strengthening health facilities, providing testing solutions for the disease in central laboratories, and enhancing surveillance, awareness, and knowledge about monkeypox."

The meeting, held in Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen, also addressed "the effects of climate change, floods, and heavy rains on several governorates and the health response."

Discussions also included "providing the Ministry of Health with the necessary resources to address the increasing health risks from acute watery diarrhea and cholera, exploring ways to mobilize efforts to combat these challenges, identifying priorities for joint action, and preparing for a high-level meeting with donors to support the health sector."

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, its highest level of alert.

Yemen's health sector faces significant challenges due to the direct and indirect consequences of the ongoing war in the country for nearly 10 years, following the Houthi group's coup, which is internationally designated as a terrorist organization.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Net on Wednesday, Health Minister Buhaibeh highlighted that declining international funding has negatively impacted the health and nutritional situation, jeopardizing the lives of many children and women.

Buhaibeh warned that this decline could lead to the closure of nearly 1,000 health centers, leaving immunization, nutrition, and maternal care services nonexistent. He explained that half of Yemen's children under the age of 5 are currently suffering from chronic malnutrition.