Khabar Khair (Only Good News) – Soad Al-Balakhi

According to a recent survey conducted by the World Health Organization, 90% of countries are experiencing disruption to some of their basic health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The areas with the greatest disruption reported include: routine immunization, diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases, family planning and contraceptive services, treatment of mental health disorders, and cancer diagnosis and treatment. COVID-19 is a critical reminder of the reasons why everyone must invest and support more robust health and data systems based on the principle of primary health care in order to achieve universal health coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO), in coordination with the Islamic Development Bank, has worked to strengthen response efforts to COVID-19 in Yemen. As part of a large-scale response, between February and May 2021, $2.6 million worth of medicines and medical supplies were provided to 32 targeted COVID-19 treatment centres and central public health laboratories. At a time when the health situation in Yemen is collapsing and the health system in Yemen is trying to provide basic services, supporting the COVID-19 response is critical. In May, the World Health Organization and the Islamic Development Bank subsidized the isolation units with 1,060 oxygen cylinders. In addition to providing personal protective equipment for 32 isolation units and 5 central laboratories for public health.