Going Door-to-Door to Protect Yemen's Children
It's a five-hour journey over rugged roads to reach the health center nearest to Bait Essa, a town nestled in the mountains of Yemen's Amran governate. "Services like syringe injections, first aid and health care are far away from us," says 23-year-old Saba Muhammad Essa, a UNICEF-supported community health worker. "The patient would arrive at the hospital dead."
Every day, Saba travels into the countryside on foot, going door-to-door to bring urgently needed health care to children and families cut off from vital services after more than five years of brutal civil war. She screens children for malnutrition and refers them for treatment, and conducts socially distant COVID-19 awareness sessions, teaching families proper handwashing and hygiene techniques.
"My duty requires me to educate my community on how to follow the basic precautions to avoid being infected by the coronavirus," she says proudly. "I feel there is positive feedback because I serve my country and society."
"People are frightened about the virus. Everyone around the world is scared," says Saba. "So how about Yemeni people who are already facing so many difficulties in their lives? My message to the world is to stop the war in Yemen. Yemen has suffered enough. We want support for doctors and health workers."
As of June 2020, UNICEF's $479 million appeal to sustain basic essential services for children in Yemen was only 38 percent funded. Urgent support is needed to keep UNICEF's essential programs up and running. Your generous contribution will help UNICEF continue to save lives and protect the most vulnerable in Yemen.
Top photo: 23-year-old Saba Muhammad Essa, a UNICEF-supported community health worker, travels on foot to reach families cut off from health services by fighting in Bait Essa, Amran governate, Yemen. © UNICEF/UNI339518/Gabreez
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
