MSF has ongoing projects in 13 governates in Yemen. We have implemented measures to keep staff and patients safe and to ensure the continuation of lifesaving hospital care in all projects, as well as helped other hospitals prepare to receive COVID-19 cases.
In Aden, MSF is running the COVID-19 treatment centres at Al Amal and Al Gumhoria hospitals, in support of the local health authorities. As Aden has recently experienced a sharp increase in suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, an additional MSF emergency team has arrived to provide additional medical and logistical support to the hospital.
In Sana’a governate in central Yemen, MSF is supporting two hospitals by treating severely ill COVID-19 patients. The 15-bed ICU in al-Kuwait Hospital has been mostly full for the past four weeks, with a high mortality rate; patients are arriving at the centre very late, making it very difficult for health care workers to save their lives. At Sheikh Zayyed Hospital we are providing training for the screening set-up, triage and infection prevention and control, as well as donating hygiene and cleaning supplies, medicines and oxygen. We are focused on maintaining essential, lifesaving care in the emergency room, intensive care unit, operating theatre and male and female inpatient departments, alongside mental health care and referrals for higher level care in Sana’a.
MSF teams have treated hundreds of patients with respiratory symptoms in both Sana’a and Aden.
In Amran governate, we have established COVID-19 treatment centres for moderate cases in Khamer and Haydan, and have begun admitting small numbers of patients suspected of COVID-19 due to their similar symptoms.
In Hajjah Governorate in the northeast, we have contributed to preparation in Abs and Al Gumhouri hospitals. In Abs Hospital we created an 11-bed isolation unit. The MSF-supported COVID-19 isolation centre is now officially part of Al Gumhouri hospital, where we have supported the authorities by setting up a 30-bed triage area. Screening points have been established at patient entry in both locations.
Also in the town of Abs, we are exploring perceptions and knowledge of COVID-19 in the community including in Al Khudish displacement camp, and measures to protect them from infection.
In Marib we have focused on training community health workers in COVID-19 health promotion. We are also training staff in three health facilities and setting up screening points and patient flow circuits.
In Ibb governorate in the southwest we have supported local authorities to build the Al Sahul COVID-19 treatment centre, which began receiving patients on 13 June. MSF conducted a five-day training course for 234 medical and non-medical staff in the facility. We are assisting with technical support, triage and screening set- up, facility management, and infection prevention and control (IPC).
In Hodeidah governate in the west we have been conducting training and implementing IPC measures in Al Salakhana Hospital, where we have also established an isolation unit.
In Taiz governate in the southeast, training and IPC implementation have also been our focus in the mother and child hospital in Taiz Houban. We support a total of three hospitals in Taiz city and have been providing training and systems support as part of their preparedness for COVID-19.
