UNICEF helps to establish a training program for Community Health and Nutrition Workers in Yemen
Support local families, detect malnutrition cases and help people receive the necessary medical help in Dhamar and Lahj Governorates
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“We do this for children,” says Bodor Al-Dohmaly, one of the health and nutrition volunteers from Dhamar Governorate, Yemen. Bodor is among the volunteers who have recently finished a 2-day training session organized in the Dhamar governorate that enable volunteers to provide health and nutrition services in the community.
Community Health and Nutrition Volunteers support local families, detect malnutrition cases and help people receive the necessary medical help. Today they operate in Dhamar and Lahj Governorates
“After finishing the course, volunteers start working in the field right away,” says Lutf Zaid, one of the trainers. “There are four supervisors and 18 volunteers in my class. These volunteers help the local community, especially parents whose children suffer from malnutrition. They also provide help in health centres.”
Volunteers face numerous challenges in their work: they have to travel on damaged and dangerous roads, risk getting trapped in cross-fire, hitting a land mine, or several other logistical challenges to order to go door-to-door and visit as many families as possible, even in the most remote areas.
However, these volunteers are motivated people who focus on the purpose of their work.
“My work makes a difference in our society,” says Alyaa Ali, a certified nutrition expert with over six years of experience, who is now one of the trainers in the course for volunteers. “We raise mothers’ awareness and provide malnourished children with micronutrients, vitamins, and other medicines,” she adds.
Khadija Mohammed works at the Al-Mawaheb Health Centre in Dhamar Governorate. This young woman has already participated in numerous nutrition campaigns and understands the importance of proper training for volunteers and healthcare workers.
“Thanks to this course, we know how to do the MUAC measurements and nutrition screening properly, detect those who need micronutrients and medicines and help them,” claims Khadija.
During their training, volunteers also learn to raise awareness in the local community about malnutrition and the importance of the ongoing campaign. Due to the financial crisis caused by a long-lasting conflict, most people cannot provide a healthy diet for their children. Therefore, it is essential that parents understand and accept the community`s initiative.
“Every day we visit about 120 houses,” says Jamila Al-Humaydhah, one of the volunteers, “I feel that our work makes a difference in the society as it significantly improves the nutrition and health status of local children.”
The training in Dhamar Governorate supported by UNICEF and the Famine Relief Fund covers a broad range of subjects, helping local healthcare workers and volunteers to make a true impact and decrease the level of malnutrition and child mortality in the region. This intervention is implemented thanks to the financial support of KSrelief and UAE Aid.
According to Shadia Al-Methaly, one of the supervisors, the course provides all the necessary knowledge to let families that live in remote areas get access to qualified help and all the essential information about their children’s health and nutrition.
“Volunteers make a difference reaching every child in the area,” says Shadia, “our purpose is to support local families and provide necessary help to children with malnutrition. Thanks to the knowledge provided by the training, we can help more people and save children`s lives.”
