Khabar Khair (Only Good News)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government has contributed GBP 25 million to UNICEF Yemen to improve the health and nutrition outcomes for children and women in Yemen through a multi-sectoral response.

The contribution will enable UNICEF to strengthen primary health care (PHC) and community health systems (CHS) through the provision of an integrated services package including health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, and mental health and psychosocial support.

To enhance primary health care facilities, UNICEF will provide operational support and life-saving health and nutrition supplies and equipment, including vaccines, medicines, and midwifery kits while improving the skills and knowledge of health workers and community health and nutrition workforce through capacity building interventions.

UNICEF will also work to enhance quality referral care to reduce morbidity and mortality among mothers and children, strengthen institutional capacity to manage health systems in the areas of governance, data and supply chain systems as well as rehabilitate/ expand water systems/services to enhance access to safe drinking water.

“We appreciate our longstanding partnership with UK/FCDO. This contribution will enable UNICEF to reach mothers and children who desperately need health and nutrition services. With an integrated multi-sectoral approach, we will be able to effectively provide support to vulnerable families requiring primary health care and community nutrition and health services,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

Nine years into the conflict, Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises with 18.2 million people, including 9.8 million children, needing lifesaving humanitarian support. More than 17.8 million people cannot properly access health services in the country, where only 70 per cent of the health facilities are partially or fully functional.