“A big, indescribable difference.” This is how Majidah Ahmed, 32, described the difference between two times in her remote area located in Mawza district of Taiz Governorate, where health care needs of the most vulnerable population are increasing, including women.
The two times are the time before and the time after the emergency health and nutrition response project for conflict-affected communities in the districts of Al-Wazieyyah and Mawza, which is implemented by HUMAN ACCESS, in partnership with the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF).
Through a series of health and nutrition interventions, the project seeks to improve health care services in targeted areas, including the use of mobile health teams, support for health facilities, and provision of free and high-quality health care services for the most vulnerable communities.
Two previous dangerous experiences
Majidah had given birth to two children before, but she faced the danger of death, due to the lack of health services in her area. In order to get healthcare, she must go through a long and risky journey and pay huge sums of money to reach the nearest health center of Al-Hajfa.
She was pregnant in her last months, and her financial circumstances were difficult, and she could not afford to travel to distant health care centers due to exorbitant costs. Due to the fact that most mothers and newborns die during or shortly after birth, she had no choice but to surrender and give birth at home, in spite of expected complications.
A positive impact and a dose of hope
Labor began at her home, but Majidah was lucky this time. The nearby health unit, Al-Hajfa, began providing safe delivery services after the emergency health and nutrition response for conflict-affected communities project rehabilitated and operated it.
During a field mission, she was referred by a mobile project team and transported her to the health unit in a timely manner, as the first case received by the health unit.
There, the medical team quickly responded and provided her with the care she needed. It wasn't long before Majidah was able to sit up in her bed and breastfeed her healthy baby.
She felt the positive impact of the services provided to relieve her pain and her safety and that of her child. Majidah was overwhelmed with joy, saying, “This is what we dreamed and wished for.” She thanked HUMAN ACCESS and YHF for this project, which gave women a great dose of hope and safety and is of great importance for the sustainability of basic life-saving services.
