Yemen-Nutrition, Maternity & Child Health Center

Project Summary

Yemen remains one of the least developed countries not only within the Middle East but also on a global scale, ranking 183rd out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2023). The protracted conflict has severely damaged civilian infrastructure across many districts, resulting in critical disruptions in food supply, healthcare, water access, sanitation, and hygiene services. Rapid inflation in food and healthcare costs has further exacerbated the population’s vulnerability, pushing basic needs increasingly out of reach for millions. These challenges are layered atop a backdrop of longstanding economic decline and persistent insecurity throughout the country.

Among the most heavily impacted regions is the Taiz governorate, where continued violence has placed entire communities in dire humanitarian need. Hundreds of thousands are at imminent risk due to a collapse in essential public services. Acute malnutrition rates have reached alarming levels, particularly among children under the age of five (U5) and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). According to the Nutrition Cluster, Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates in the targeted districts of Taiz range from 17% to 20%, far surpassing the WHO emergency threshold of 5%.

In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, Yeryüzü Doktorlar Dernegi (Doctors Worldwide Türkiye) has been active in Yemen since 2015. Beginning in May 2016, the organisation launched an integrated nutrition, maternal, and child healthcare project targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable women and children. Through the operation of seven healthcare centres in Aden, Taiz, and Hadhramout, the programme delivered comprehensive medical consultations, treatment, and free medication support to tens of thousands of beneficiaries—particularly pregnant and lactating women and children under five. The organisation’s continued presence and experience in Yemen have laid a foundation for scalable, context-sensitive interventions aimed at addressing urgent health and nutrition needs.

Achievements and Impact

During the August–November period, health and nutrition services were delivered through the Taiz Mother and Child Health Center, the Taiz Nutrition Health Center, and nutrition education activities implemented under the Yemen Programme in Taiz.

At the Taiz Mother and Child Health Center, pediatric outpatient consultations reached 898 sessions in August, followed by 796 sessions in September, 740 sessions in October, and 715 sessions in November. Gynecology consultations were recorded as 1,262 sessions in August, 1,453 in September, 1,368 in October, and 1,271 in November. Antenatal care services, provided through pregnancy follow-up consultations, reached 210 sessions in both August and September, 199 sessions in October, and 196 sessions in November.

Delivery services at the center included normal deliveries, with 22 births recorded in August, 20 in September, 22 in October, and 23 in November. Laboratory services supported clinical activities through diagnostic testing and imaging. A total of 920 laboratory tests were conducted in August, 900 in September, 944 in October, and 1,056 in November. Ultrasound services reached 429 individuals in August, 415 in September, 389 in October, and 385 in November.

Treatment services included emergency observation, with 991 individuals served in August, 948 in September, 944 in October, and 967 in November. Medication and medical supply support was provided through vaccination and pharmaceutical assistance. Vaccination support for mothers reached 61 individuals in August, 35 in September, 45 in October, and 40 in November, while vaccination support for children reached 372 individuals in August, 336 in September, 328 in October, and 322 in November. Medication support services reached 1,126 individuals in August, 1,023 in September, 872 in October, and 750 in November. Psychosocial support services related to family planning were also delivered, reaching 204 sessions in both August and September, 208 sessions in October, and 200 sessions in November.

At the Taiz Nutrition Health Center, nutrition screening services were provided to both mothers and children. Nutrition screening for mothers reached 943 sessions in August, 887 in September, 853 in October, and 899 in November. Nutrition screening for children recorded 961 sessions in August, 932 in September, 925 in October, and 963 in November. In addition to screening activities, nutrition treatment services were delivered to malnourished individuals. Nutrition treatment services for mothers reached 93 individuals in August, 81 in September, 89 in October, and 106 in November, while nutrition treatment services for children reached 67 individuals in August, 68 in September, 75 in October, and 72 in November.

Nutrition education activities were implemented as part of community-level interventions. Basic nutrition education sessions targeting mothers reached 2,297 individuals in August, 2,367 in September, 2,254 in October, and 2,225 in November.

Conclusion

The Taiz Integrated Health Centre Project stands as a vital humanitarian intervention in one of the most severely affected regions of Yemen. By addressing the urgent health and nutritional needs of women and children impacted by protracted conflict, the project delivers both immediate, life-saving support and contributes to the long-term resilience and recovery of local communities.

Through the delivery of comprehensive, community-based services and the strengthening of local healthcare capacity, the initiative aims to reduce preventable mortality and enhance equitable access to essential health services for the most vulnerable populations.