Yemen, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has completed the enhancement of medical capacities for workers at ten land, sea, and air border crossings to combat the spread of diseases and epidemics across borders.
This comes as the European Union announced the operation of a new humanitarian airlift to transport medical supplies to Yemen.
According to a statement by the European Union, a humanitarian airlift will be operated in the coming days of this month to provide vital assistance to civilians and respond to the urgent health crisis resulting from the spread of infectious diseases in Yemen.
The airlift will include 24 flights carrying a range of essential medical supplies, including medicines, vaccines, and other medical materials, to address the spread of life-threatening infectious diseases and health emergencies among affected populations.
The European Union has operated 13 flights since last February, carrying over 163 tons of medical aid from its warehouses in Dubai to Yemen via Nairobi. These aids have contributed to addressing the cholera outbreak in Yemen.
Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels continue to conceal the number of cholera cases, which have exceeded 20,000 according to data from humanitarian organizations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that Yemen faces complex challenges exacerbated by ten years of conflict, including a fragile healthcare system, a shortage of specialized personnel, and an increase in health emergencies, some of which come from unexpected sources.
The UN organization has highlighted the link between transportation, travel, and trade with economic development, but also warned of potential risks to public health, leading to the spread of diseases across borders.
Airports, seaports, and land crossings pose unique health risks that require specialized capabilities different from those required in local communities and health facilities.
The WHO is working to enforce international health regulations at entry points and to build Yemen’s capacity to prepare for and respond to public health threats from unexpected sources.
According to the WHO’s Qatar office in Yemen, the training mission for trainers on international health regulations and core capacities requirements has been completed, covering staff at entry points, including health inspectors from multiple maritime ports, airports, and land crossings.
The training, which combined theoretical sessions with practical field visits, enabled participants to gain practical experience.
It concluded with a practical exercise designed to assess and enhance the core functions of public health at entry points, aligned with the core capacities of international health regulations for prevention, early detection, and response.
The WHO Yemen office has developed standard operating procedures to support the implementation of routine activities and response to international public health emergencies, in line with international health regulations.
Furthermore, a national training approach has been developed, and the trained team, with the assistance of national and international experts, has conducted national assessments at ten strategic entry points, including four maritime ports, three airports, and three land crossings.
The UN office has identified significant gaps in capacities at entry points and in information exchange across various levels. It emphasizes the use of epidemic response fund support to meet urgent needs, focusing on priority capacities in the country.
The WHO Yemen office emphasizes the importance of maintaining financial support and continuous capacity building to maintain preparedness and response capacities for public health threats at entry points.
It considers the WHO initiative to enhance core capacities related to international health regulations at entry points crucial for enhancing national, regional, and global health security.
Through unified efforts, Yemen positions itself at the forefront of health preparedness, demonstrating resilience and determination in facing significant challenges.
However, the success of this initiative depends on the commitment of all relevant parties, as cooperation is essential to prevent the spread of diseases across borders and enhance global health security.
