In Yemen for, instance, the infant mortality rate is over eight percent. Current conditions in both urban and rural areas serve to promote the spread of viral outbreaks and disease throughout the communities. Water pollution and lack of basic sanitary infrastructures contribute to this condition. In rural areas, farmers remain uninformed of proper environmental measures that need to be taken when using pesticides and fertilizers. When these precautions are not taken, the environmental pollutants tend to seep into and contaminate the groundwater - the same water used by families in the rural community.
Rapid urbanization constitutes a great challenge for public health at many levels.
Lack of proper sanitation in rapidly growing urban centers is also a major contributor to the spread of water-born diseases. Waste management has also posed a significant and ongoing problem for city officials. Often, trash is simply dumped in the street, where it provides a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects. A main focus of the academic programming of the UMEP is intended to help address some of the many challenges of the management of complex health care systems of tomorrow's societies. Public awareness in health care and disease prevention constitutes one of the important dimensions involved.