What it takes to keep communities, and homes clean and cholera free

As the humanitarian crisis continues in Yemen, communities in the country’s capital, Sana’a have been dealing with collapsing health systems and ongoing disease outbreaks. Vulnerable communities struggle in the face of economic hardship and crumbling services. While UNICEF and partners are working with the authorities to keep systems going, communities themselves need to be empowered to prevent the spread of disease.

In response, with generous support from, the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, communities are running clean up campaigns across Sana’a.

The programme includes school-based interventions to teach children about clean water and how to protect their families against cholera. Across the country over 2500 school health facilitators were trained.

To expand on school programmes a cadre of community volunteers across Sana’a were trained and supported to roll out these campaigns. And the community has responded positively with full force.

“We have been working to mobilise religious leaders, teachers and community volunteers to work with people on clean up campaigns and to spread vital information about health and disease prevention,” says Abdulkhaliq Zainah, C4D Officer with the Sana’a Field Office of UNICEF Yemen. "
 

These community champions are the best assets for helping builds resilience. It is great to see them come together, to mobilise with a common goal of keeping their communities clean.”