WHO:

Half of Yemen's Hospitals Not Fully Functional after 18-Month War

Rasa - More than half of Yemen's medical facilities have closed or are only partially functioning because of the 18-month war, according to a new World Health Organization survey.

News ID: 424895

Date: 08 November 2016 - 21:57

RNA - More than 21 million people living in Yemen are urgently in need of health services as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to the United Nations health agency's study released Monday.

Seven thousand people have been killed and 36,818 injured in the fighting between the country's Houthis and the fugitive former government, according to WHO's data through Oct. 25. Another 2.1 million people have been internally displaced.

WHO's Health Resources Availability Mapping System found that out of 3,507 health facilities contacted in 16 of Yemen's 22 provinces, only 1,579 (45 percent) are fully functional and accessible, 1,343 (38 percent) are partially functional and 504 (17 percent) are non-functional. A total of 274 health facilities were damaged as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Only 6.2 beds are available for every 10,000 people, which is below the international benchmark, according to WHO.

The survey found 49 of the 276 districts -- almost 18 percent -- had no medical doctors, UPI reported.

In terms of services, less than 40 percent provide a full package of health-care services, and only 21 per cent of facilities offer full services for non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions. Without proper communicable diseases management, the areas are at risk of outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria and other endemic diseases, the UN agency said.

Also, the agency is concerned people are being deprived of live-saving procedures, and pregnant mothers and new-born children are at risk without proper care.

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