Dr. Miriam Martin, a KCE Ambassador, visited Yemen and shares her photos and thoughts from her trip in 2008. She led the implementation efforts to install the latest in pediatric emergency care software in the Children's Hospital of Taiz, Yemen.
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Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world having been in civil war until recently. Yemen has a population of approximately 22 million spread across the western coastal region of the Arabian Peninsular. Poverty is rife with a gross national income per head of US$920 - less than half of that of the Sudan. Life expectancy at birth is 59 years for males and 62 years for females - similar statistics to those of the Sudan and Pakistan and only slightly better than Somalia. Yemen spends very little on health - only US$88 per head per annum. Immunization rates are sporadic with large numbers of reported cases of measles, mumps, pertussis and tetanus. Infant mortality (less than 12 months) is 62 per 1000 live births and the under 5 mortality rate is 84/1000. Only 14% of births have a "skilled" attendant.
Malnutrition and diseases of poverty are rife and there is poor access to healthcare. Because of the culture, it is difficult for women and children to receive care. It is difficult for women to become doctors and yet these women and children's facilities need female doctors.
We would like to thank KCE and PEMSoft for its donation of a copy to the Children's Hosptial, Taiz, Yemen. It will assist greatly in the learning and teaching of the local doctors and nurses.
Yemen has some of the cutest kids in the world! We met these kids at "The House on the Rock" which is an old Royal Palace in Sanai which is set up as a tourist attraction.
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Helping with the shop while dad is at prayer time
in the Markets of Taiz, Yemen
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The paediatric hospital has a "Meningitis Room" and "Tetanus Room"
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Infection control in hospitals is almost non-existent. People tend to even wear their outside clothes into the operating theatres. There are flyscreens over the windows. The city dust and flies still make it past these barriers.
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