Improving the Infrastructure and Quality of Reproductive Health Services in Yemen

Yemen has extremely poor health indicators with high levels of malnutrition, low immunization rates, and outbreaks of communicable diseases. The fragile health system is suffering from the consequences of protracted conflict, economic decline, and limited government resources. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Concern has been providing health and nutrition services to Alroaid health unit in the Al-Millah district in Lahj Governorate.

At the beginning of 2024, when Concern started operations, the health unit reported challenges in delivering basic services due to a lack of basic health infrastructure, minimal handwashing facilities and medical waste disposal. The health unit was also struggling with limited space with no waiting area for female patients and medical supplies were being stored in a latrine built for people with disabilities. Patients often had to wait outside of the facility before receiving treatment, with the lack of privacy posing as a significant challenge for women and girls, especially in relation to reproductive health services.

With funding from Electric Aid, the programme has since improved the quality of health care services at Alroaid health unit through targeted infrastructure development as well as the provision of essential equipment and tools necessary for routine operations.

This learning paper presents the impact, lessons learned and recommendations from the intervention.