ALBAWABA - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned that a woman dies in Yemen every 2 hours during either pregnancy or childbirth, due to the lack of healthcare services.
As it marks World Population Day, the UNFPA took to X to raise the alarm regarding the deteriorating situation in Yemen, as the country suffers from high rates of preventable maternal deaths.
Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA Representative in Yemen, stated: "UNFPA serves as a lifeline for women like Sayun in Yemen's most vulnerable areas".
"We collaborate with partners to strengthen the healthcare system and ensure women have access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. Yet the needs are immense," the UNFPA representative added.
Notably, "six out of ten births occur without a skilled midwife," and "approximately 5.5 million women have limited or no access to reproductive health services". The Yemeni government announced on July 10 that it was cutting off about 70% of foreign funding for the health sector.
It also urged regional and international organizations to continue supporting the health sector in a sustainable way so that vital services can continue to be provided and that the sector can get through this challenging time.
In 12 governorates of Yemen, oral vaccinations against polio will be administered to roughly 1.3 million children under five years of age as part of a second vaccination campaign.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population launched the campaign today with the goal of halting the spread of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 epidemic.
During this program, vitamin A supplements will also be given to children to strengthen their natural protection against illnesses.
