Transcript
Text: Paul Eze, project medical referent, MSF
Paul: We receive about 25 to 35 measles cases every week, mostly children coming from rural areas
Text: Increasing numbers of patients suffering from measles arrive at this hospital in Abs every day. MSF teams across Yemen have seen an increase in measles cases. They treated 1,787 children in 2018
Paul: Because of the ongoing conflict, this has had an impact on the health system which has collapsed. As a result, we’ve had the return of vaccine-preventable diseases. Image this, in the 21st century, where some of these diseases have been completely eliminated in most countries of the world. Now we have ongoing outbreaks of measles, we have ongoing outbreaks of diphtheria, And these are diseases that are easily prevented by routine vaccination.
Text: Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious illness and even death if left untreated
Paul: We used to have 4 beds for measles in the isolation room. But now we have 28 beds for measles alone, and the bed occupancy rate is very high. The beds are almost always fully occupied. This has gone beyond our capacity.
Text: In Yemen, vaccination is needed, to prevent further outbreaks of disease such as cholera, diphtheria and measles.
