Situated in the Al-Primary and Secondary School, the health facility in Al-Hadabah village measured just 3x3 metres.  When it became over-crowded – a frequent occurrence – villages had to go to the next closest facility, about 5 kilometres away. This was a substantive distance, particularly for those who were ill or wounded.  In addition, the distance did little to encourage vaccination.  Explains Mohammed Ismail, “I have four children, and I used to look for a transportation means or walk sometimes for half an hour to get vaccines for my children or tetanus vaccine for my wife.”

The Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen joint programme empowers communities to address challenges just like these.  Confident in the ability of people to solving their own problems, the programme engages village councils to identify their communities’ greatest challenges, make practical plans of action, and draw on the resources that already exist to resolve them. 

In Al-Hadabah, the programme helped to 10-members (5 of whom were women).  According to council member, Mr. Ali Mohammed Zain, “At first, we planned to build the health unit on a land between our village and Al-Jawf village so that it would be close to both villages.  However, the landlord of that land refused even to sell it. So, I donated my land for the sake of my villagers’ well-being.”

The council faced numerous challenges but remained undaunted, both giving of their own time and resources, while also raising funds from within the community.

In addition to his own contribution, Ali and his fellow council members secured a donation of 2,000 building blocks, worth almost US$4,000 from a village Sheikh, so that construction could begin.

 As a result of their dedication and concerted effort, the council was able to complete the building in less than 4 months.  The new health facility is now operational and houses nutrition, reproduction health, vaccination, and medical examination departments.

Amal Badawi, Al-Rawna the facility administrator beams, “When this health unit was just a small room inside a school, we only received a few cases. Now we receive about 20 cases from 29 villages per day and the number is on the rise. Villagers are comfortable because the Unit is near and spacious; and medicine and vaccines are now available.”

AL-Rawna Health Unit serves more than 3,500 people, conducting medical examinations and providing obstetric care, responding to malnutrition and giving vaccinations to reduce the occurrence of diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, and cholera – diseases that threaten the lives of children, in particular.

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The Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY) joint programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Food Programme (WFP) in the Yemeni governorates of Hajjah, Hudaydah, Lahj and Abyan.  The three-year programme aims to enhance the resilience and self-reliance of crisis-affected rural communities through support to livelihoods stabilization, food security, local governance, social cohesion and improved access to sustainable energy. UNDP works in partnership with the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF).

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