Despite improvements in recent years, Yemen still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region, at 183 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to a recent report published by the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA
The report noticed that the Yemeni national healthcare system has been stretched to breaking point after years of conflict, repeated climate disasters and a volatile economic situation. And some forty per cent of health facilities are partially functioning or completely out of service because of shortages in staff, funds, electricity, medicine and equipment, leaving millions without adequate care.
As humanitarian funding is slashed across the world, life-saving services like those offered in Kamaran Island from UNFPA-supported health center that serves some 5,000 women and girls across three villages, are being severely pared back.
For Kamaran Island, the island’s dire lack of resources means that women with high-risk deliveries must take a boat across treacherous waters to the nearest hospital, followed by a long ambulance ride.
The lack of funds means UNFPA can’t continue supporting the Kamaran health centre, costing workers losing their jobs and placing the lives of many in their community in danger.
Sadly, across Yemen, UNFPA will no longer be able to train or employ more than half of the 1,492 midwives planned for 2025, meaning over 590,000 women of childbearing age will lose access to a midwife, and some 2.3 million people will be impacted overall.
“Cutting funding for humanitarian midwifery services puts women and their babies in harm’s way,” said Dr Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “We cannot fail midwives; we need to find ways to support their essential work.”