Yemen Country Brief

About

Country Context

Yemen is a nation in the Middle East and North Africa region with a total population of 35.8 million. In 2014, conflict erupted, and the country has been enduring a humanitarian crisis since. Ongoing conflict has devastated Yemen's economy and society, plunging millions into poverty and hunger. Disruptions to aid, trade, and remittances have worsened the crisis. Insufficient humanitarian funding limits aid reach, leaving many in dire need.

In 2024, 18.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection services, more than half of whom are children.³ Recurrent disease outbreaks also pose a challenge.

Overview of Community Health

In Yemen, health services are delivered through public, private, and charitable sectors. According to the Public Health Law, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) is responsible for providing services across primary, secondary, tertiary, and specialized levels of care. The primary health care network includes various health units and centers that are integrated with community networks. Access to health care remains constrained.

To address these issues, the MoPHP has envisioned an integrated service delivery model with interventions at facility and community levels.

Health Services in the Community

Health services in the community are currently provided by community health nutrition volunteers (CHNV), community midwives (CMW), and community health workers (CHW). Each of these community-based cadres possesses unique profiles, skill sets, and provides distinct services. Historically, these cadres have been affiliated with specific vertical programs within the health sector.

As Yemen transitions towards development programming, the MoPHP is currently developing a new national community-based Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy. This strategy aims to integrate all cadres and mitigate fragmentation within the health sector.