Aden – On Monday (08/06) the International Organization for Migration (IOM) completed the first phase of a training course for Yemeni health workers on infection prevention and control, with particular focus on the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 outbreak has worsened an already dire situation for many people in Yemen. The virus is spreading fast across the country and overwhelming the health system.

Over 40 health workers participated in the first phase of IOM’s training programme, which took place in Aden, while a total of 260 health workers will be targeted through all six phases. Each phase of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) supported programme will focus on a different Yemeni governorate: Aden, Abyan, Shabwah, Lahj, Al Dhale and Taizz.

Working with the Governorate Health Office, IOM aims to increase the safety of health personnel and patients, reducing the overall risk of infection at health facilities, through these trainings. Infection prevention and control capacity building has become vital in light of the spread of COVID-19 in Yemen.

“The goal of the training is to raise the awareness of the health workers on prevention of COVID-19 transmission and how to deal with suspected COVID-19 cases, including referral to other facilities,” said Dr Hesham Ali Ba Alawi, a training coordinator with IOM in Aden.

The first phase of the training targeted IOM health team members working in IOM’s migrant response point in Aden and migrant mobile teams, which work along Yemen’s southern coast, as well as public health staff working in IOM-supported health facilities in Aden. The following phases will expand the training to 23 health facilities across the six governorates.

“We learned many things such as how to deal with the active cases of COVID-19 and their contacts, and how to promote awareness in the community on how to deal with the virus,” said Dr Rana Khamees Reporting Assistant with IOM in Aden.

“We now have more in depth knowledge on what the virus does to the body, as well as on monitoring and reporting cases,” said Dr Bushra Salem Naser Administrative Assistant with IOM in Aden.

Since before the confirmation of the first positive case of COVID-19 in Yemen in April, IOM has been conducting awareness sessions across the country for the conflict-affected communities, displaced people and migrants. The Organization has also distributed hygiene kits to vulnerable communities and increased rural communities’ access to water. This is in addition to the support that IOM provides to Yemen’s health public health system. IOM supports hospitals, health clinics and medical outreach teams. A vital part of the Organization’s work over the past few years has been our cholera response. In 2019, IOM treated over 37,000 people with suspected cholera in Yemen. This year, that support will continue alongside IOM’s COVID-19 response. 

For more information, please contact IOM Yemen:

Arabic: Rami Ibrahim, Tel: +967739888756, Email: ralabsi@iom.int

English: Olivia Headon, Tel: +967730552233, Email: oheadon@iom.int