My name is Nabila, and I am 55 years old.  I live here in Aden with my family of 14 children. Last year I started hearing about COVID-19 all over the news, on the internet, from my family and my neighbors.  

I was worried because there is a lot of information out there, but nothing is certain. After a while, I started to hear that COVID-19 has come to Yemen and that people are falling sick in the hospital, and some were starting to die.  

Then, everything changed. Markets closed and people started to lose their jobs. My two sons and my husband who work in Aden’s fish market had to stop working.  

I did my best to keep my family away from the virus and stay safe. I put in place a very strict rule in my home that no one would leave the house unless necessary, but it was difficult to control them.  

Once I went to the Abdulqawi Health Centre, and the doctors there started to tell me medical information about COVID-19. They raised our awareness and gave us important instructions like to wash our hands and vegetables, wear a mask, keep more than one metre away from others and cover your mouth when you cough. I was very happy to learn these lessons and I taught my children and family too. 

This year, the vaccine came to Yemen, and I was scared to take it because of the rumors going around, and my family was not convinced it was a good idea. 

Doctors here in the health centre helped me understand that the vaccine was safe and could help us stay protected from the virus. After being vaccinated, I felt tired and had a headache for one day, but I knew these symptoms are normal. 

I now believe in the power of vaccines to protect against diseases. I try to convince my family to take the vaccine because it is important for both individuals and the Yemeni community. If most of our community gets vaccinated, we can stop the spread of COVID-19. 

IOM’s COVID-19 prevention and response activities at Abdulqawi Health Centre in Aden are supported by the USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).