UAE And WHO Conclude Initial Health Assessment Phase In Socotra Island To Enhance Nutrition Status
Field teams from the UAE and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have completed the first phase of a comprehensive baseline assessment on Socotra Island, Yemen. This operation, in collaboration with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), began in late May. It involves four scheduled field visits over one year by joint teams from both entities.
The initial phase aims to reduce mortality related to poor health and malnutrition by 20 percent over two to five years. This will be achieved through an integrated approach to strengthen the health system. The baseline assessment covered 38 villages across 29 sub-districts of Socotra. Preliminary results indicate that 93 percent of targeted health facilities were surveyed.
Data were collected from 4,214 households as part of the household listing process. Field teams conducted over 930 caregiver interviews and took anthropometric measurements from eligible children and mothers, exceeding initial targets. They also facilitated 12 focus group discussions with diverse community groups.
All planned key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, donor agencies, and UN representatives, were completed. Additionally, the teams conducted 546 client exit interviews to gather beneficiary feedback on services provided, surpassing initial expectations.
The baseline assessment will now enter the data cleaning, verification, and analysis phase. This will pave the way for a final report revealing the current status of maternal and child health and nutrition in the community. It will also assess health facilities' readiness for emergencies to guide evidence-based planning for future interventions.
Upcoming stages include procuring and distributing medical supplies, recruiting technical experts, conducting training programmes, and launching community awareness campaigns. These activities will be coordinated with WHO, MoPHP, and other partners to ensure alignment with national health strategies.
UAE's Humanitarian Approach
The efforts reflect the UAE’s data-driven humanitarian approach. This initiative is implemented in partnership with leading international health organisations to create sustainable impact. It aims to improve public health indicators among vulnerable populations by aligning response activities with identified community needs and priorities.
This comprehensive programme on Socotra Island is a significant step towards enhancing healthcare infrastructure. By focusing on reducing mortality rates through improved health systems, it seeks to address critical issues affecting maternal and child health in Yemen.
With inputs from WAM
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