COVID-19 in Yemen: A Health Centre Helping Communities Face the Outbreak

“We used to mingle with patients, bond with them and sit close to them comfortably, but now we are afraid of COVID-19 transmission,” Samia explained.

The virus is now assumed to be widespread in Yemen, but there are still people who do not fully grasp its dangerous reality, which marks it apart from other diseases well known in the community, such as malaria.

"We ensure that everyone keeps a safe physical distance from each other, and we try to explain to the patients what COVID-19 is,” she added.

Abdulkawi Health Centre serves around 1,000 patients a week from four districts in Aden. Most people visiting the centre are displaced.

Muna, her husband and five children were displaced multiple times before settling in Aden. Fleeing Taizz when the conflict there began, they went from a comfortable, peaceful life to joining the millions of displaced families across Yemen living in harsh conditions with little access to essential services, such as health care.

“My life before the war was beautiful,” explained Muna, who is expecting another child. “We had enough to eat, drink and clothe ourselves. We had a house and we could even socialize easily. Now with this situation, it’s extremely difficult. We have rent to pay with no salaries. And without any income, it is hard to care for our children when they become ill.”

Muna came to the health centre because she was worried about what effect the headaches and flu symptoms she was experiencing might have on her pregnancy. She knew that COVID-19 was present in Aden, but she was not aware that avoiding physical contact and keeping your distance from others, in addition to handwashing, are key ways of protecting yourself from the virus.

“I have a headache and I feel like I have the flu, so I came here to get treatment, but I had no idea!” said Muna. She tested negative, but during her visit to the health centre she learned a lot about the virus and how it can be transmitted. 

"We are in an environment of poverty and lack of awareness,” said Dr. Bushra, who works at the health centre. "I have to give every patient that visits our health centre the correct information on COVID-19 prevention and its symptoms because many of them don’t know much about the virus or how it spreads. We have to ensure that people living in this area, particularly displaced people who lack access to information, know how to protect themselves and their community.”

Through its partnership with KSA, IOM supports Abdulkawi Health Centre to provide health services to vulnerable communities in Aden. In response to the new virus outbreak, the health centre received personal protective equipment (PPE) and medicines to deal with the virus and control its spread. The medical staff were also trained on dealing with COVID-19 cases and how to promote health awareness.

Following her visit to the health centre, Muna said: “I went to greet the doctor when I arrived in her office, but she said that physical contact is not allowed. She explained to me why not. Now, I understand Coronavirus and its symptoms. I had seen videos about it on the TV, but I didn’t really understand. They just showed images without really explaining the symptoms and how it can be spread.”

“Now that the doctor made me aware, I will share information on Coronavirus with my children and husband, and even with my friends, sisters and aunts,” Muna concluded.

To help with infection control, patients receive cards on arrival, and only five patients at a time are allowed to enter the centre to receive medical care. The centre also established a triage area at the gate to separate the visitors with respiratory tract infections.

If a COVID-19 case is identified, the health workers isolate the person and treat them first to avoid transmitting the disease to other patients. The centre also installed two handwashing stands with chlorinated water to ensure that every visitor washes their hands as they enter the centre. And to raise awareness about COVID-19, the medical staff share verbal and visual information about how to avoid contracting COVID-19 around the health centre. Finally, to keep the centre’s staff protected, the entire team wears gloves and masks and uses sterilizers.

Ebtihal Awadh, a doctor at the IOM-supported health centre, explained: “When a child comes to me, I treat them as if they have COVID-19, just to be cautious. I usually ask the mother for more information about the child’s medical history to understand more about their case. I also educate mothers about the symptoms of the virus to help them understand how to keep an eye on their children’s health.”

Since COVID-19 was first confirmed in Yemen in April, cases have steadily risen in Aden. The official figures remain low given the lack of testing capacity across the country, but humanitarians and health professionals are working under the assumption that the virus is now widespread. In a country where only 50 per cent of health facilities are fully functional, stories of illness and death from the local community are sadly confirming this assumption.

“I advise people to stay calm and to focus on strengthening their immune system, so all you need is to keep physical distance and frequently wash your hands,” said Talal Abdo, a doctor’s assistant at the centre.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, KSA’s support is helping IOM reach nine health facilities across Yemen with human resources, medical supplies, medicines, capacity-building and health worker incentives. In June, IOM provided over 78,300 medical consultations to vulnerable Yemeni people through its 32 supported health facilities.