Minister of Health calls on donors to continue support and funding for the medical sector in Yemen

The Ministry of Public Health and Population, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, held today, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the Health Forum in Yemen, entitled (Strategic Priorities and Opportunities), to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the health sector in Yemen.

The forum reviewed the health situation and the existing challenges, most notably the lack of food and malnutrition, the rate of which has risen to more than 7 million and 700 thousand people, while the funding gap reached 141 million dollars, according to the Saba Agency.

At the opening, Minister of Public Health and Population Dr. Qasim Buhaibeh stressed the need for the health sector in Yemen to support partners. He pointed out that this sector is going through a critical phase following the outbreak of epidemics and deadly diseases that have re-spread as a result of the terrorist Houthi militia continuing to ignite the war, in addition to preventing the arrival of medical and food aid to those in need. He called for continued support and funding for the health sector in Yemen.

For his part, the Director of the World Health Organization Office in Aden, Mahmoud Dhaher, explained that the challenges facing the health sector in Yemen are great and multiple, in light of the critical health situation that has exacerbated the spread of epidemics, food shortages, and severe malnutrition, which requires strengthening and supporting the health sector so that it is able to provide its services to citizens.

The forum was attended by Dr. Adham Ismail, Director of Programme Management for the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Arthur Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen, representatives of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, and local, regional and international partners and officials.