Image: MEP Middle East
Faizel Patel –11/01/2021
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) have partnered to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in targeted health facilities and water quality monitoring and surveillance in Cholera high-risk districts
Through a new US$ 7 million award, a joint project will provide improved access and enhanced provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services to 45 healthcare facilities all over Yemen which had been identified with the most acute needs by the Health Cluster and the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan.
Improved and safe management of health care waste practices will be implemented in 117 health facilities and 100 Diarrhea Treatment Centers (DTCs) to prevent bloodborne and hospital-acquired infections, including COVID-19.
Water quality survelliance will be conducted with the provison of potable water quality testing kits in 33 cholera high-risk districts. Three regional wtaer quality testing laboratories will be established in vulnerable areas to ensure the vailablity of a safe water supply.
WHO representative in Yemen Dr Adham Ismail says improved WASH services at the hospital level will allow the functionality of preventative health programs including new-born care, elimination of childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea and control of cholera.
“Through strengthening infection control practices and training healthcare personnel on safe waste management practices, the project will help enhance safe and environmentally sound management of health care waste and prevent adverse health and environmental impacts.”
Overall, the project will benefit over 653,000 people in priority cholera high-risk districts across Yemen.
KSRelief has been the main funding partner of WHO Yemen in 2019–2020. Since October 2019, the partnership between the two organizations has helped preserve Yemen’s health system, including through support to the most vulnerable.
0 Comments