The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and WHO have joined forces with Yemen’s Ministries of Health, Population, Planning and International Cooperation to provide emergency support to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Built on Yemen’s national strategy to counter COVID-19, the partnership aims to stop the spread of the disease and related deaths in Yemen by strengthening the operational capacity of 32 specialized COVID-19 treatment centres and the laboratory testing capacity of two medical universities in the country.

Improving the preparedness of the target facilities includes the provision of monitoring devices for severe cases, portable pulse oximeter devices, oxygen cylinders, oxygen refilling, nebulizer devices, ultrasound, and other biomedical equipment.

Strengthening the protection of health care workers was carried out through the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). WHO also helped expand laboratory testing capacity via the provision of 150 000 testing kits. Essential medicines and medical supplies were also provided to treat critical COVID-19 patients.

The IsDB Group has allocated US$ 2.3 billion to counter the spread of the virus and to mitigate its economic impacts in its 57 member countries. In Yemen, the IsDB is providing a US$ 36.6 million COVID-19 support package, which includes US$ 20 million for the health sector.

The US$ 20 million “IsDB Group Emergency Support for the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project” is the first partnership between IsDB and WHO in Yemen and is part of the large-scale global response by the two Organizations to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also part of IsDB’s pledge of US$ 100 million during the virtual donors’ conference in Yemen, jointly hosted by Saudi Arabia and the United Nations on 2 June 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying Yemen’s underlying vulnerabilities as it comes on top of multiple challenges that the country is already facing including conflict, economic collapse, hunger, disease, and displacement. 

WHO thanks all donors and partners who have contributed to fund the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to combat COVID-19. A special appreciation goes to Member States and other contributors who provided flexible funds, making it possible for WHO to deliver a coherent, strategic and broad response.