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The Pharmacy Students Fighting COVID-19 in Yemen
“We are producing hand sanitizer in line with the World Health Organization’s standards,” said Fatima, a Yemeni pharmacy student at the University of Hadramaut.
“It is now well known that sanitizer is one of the most important substances that can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” she added, explaining why she and other students have come together to produce 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Carrying hand sanitizer has become a vital part of most people’s daily routine. But in Yemen, where an estimated 70 per cent of people do not even have access to simple soap, it would be wishful thinking to assume that sanitizer is in ample supply.
The scale of the COVID-19 outbreak in Yemen is unknown, as testing capacity in the country is extremely limited. Despite a lack of accurate data, the virus is still affecting communities.
Ahmed, Fatima’s fellow classmate, said:
“COVID-19 has touched the whole world. It has affected developed countries, so what impact do you think it has had on Yemen?”
An estimated 18 million Yemenis require water, sanitation, and hygiene support, which means infection prevention and control measures are desperately needed across the country. Therefore, IOM partnered with 60 pharmacy students to help address the problem in their community.
“First, we start by mixing the substances: ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, and distilled water,” said Ahmed, explaining the process the students follow to produce sanitizer. “We fill the bottles and seal them. Then it’s on to delivery with the finished product.”
The bottles are being distributed to vulnerable communities in Hadramaut, the same governorate where the university is located. This activity falls under IOM’s transition and recovery work, which also includes COVID-19 risk communications activities across the governorate, such as producing banners, information leaflets and radio messages, and supporting the sewing and distribution of face coverings.
Before working on this project, the students were waiting for the university to reopen.
“COVID-19 has affected us badly. It stopped all aspects of life, and now our lives are paralysed. As for us students, the university was shut, just like schools and mosques,” said Fatima.
Hani, a student who came from Syria to study pharmacy in Yemen, added: “We students have sat at home for five months. We do not know if we will return to university, and so our lives have been put on hold.”
The students’ problems did not end when they were called to take part in this project; COVID-19 has also disrupted their production process.
Hani explained: “There were people who wanted to join the project and then changed their minds. COVID-19 had affected our ability to leave the house because of the lack of transportation.”
Despite the difficulties, Fatima, Ahmed, Hani and their classmates are happy to be part of their community’s fight against COVID-19. They also received financial incentives for their work on the project.
This activity is carried out in cooperation with IOM’s implementing partner Al-shaheed Bin Habreesh Foundation for Development and coordinated with the relevant authorities.
