Integrated Life Saving Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent Health, Clinical Care for GBV Survivors, and Nutrition Services for Vulnerable Populations in Yemen Facing Food Insecurity and Malnutrition This Project responds to the soaring maternal and newborn deaths that have resulted from the declining access to basic health services and access to food. The last Demographic Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Yemen in 2013 indicated that maternal mortality in Yemen was 148/100,000 live births. However given the decreased access to lifesaving reproductive health services, partners estimate maternal mortality to have greatly increased and getting worse and with it the newborn deaths. Indeed the UN estimates of global mortality ratios for 2015 indicated that the maternal mortality ratio for Yemen was 385/100,000 live births, while MOPHP officials estimate this to be 400/100,000 live births. Decreased access to food that has resulted into rampant maternal malnutrition has worsened the situation as anemia in pregnancy, preterm births and underweight births which respectively predispose to higher likelihood of maternal and newborn deaths soared.

Targeting primarily pregnant women and their newborns (particularly malnourished pregnant women, lactating mothers and underweight newborns) and women and girls of reproductive age, the Project aims to improve access to lifesaving health services for the these most vulnerable population groups by supporting the integration of the Minimum Initial Service Package for Reproductive Health in the overall humanitarian response.  Specifically the project will support the provision of safe pregnancy and delivery care including emergency obstetric care, postnatal care, essential newborn care including care of preterm and/or low-birth weight newborns and management of sepsis, family planning, clinical care of survivors of gender based violence, and syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections as a critical minimum package implementable by the current state of the health system. Nutritional screening, counselling, provision of micronutrient supplementation to prevent nutritional deficiency conditions such as anemia, and referral for treatment will be integrated into this package. These interventions together comprise an essential minimum package required to address the immediate needs of the targeted population so as stop the escalation of maternal and newborn deaths and morbidity. 

Within the priority districts listed in the Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund strategy for the first standard allocation for 2017, the project will strengthen capacity of selected health facilities Al-Odain and Fara Aol-odain in Ibb Governorate Dares and Bart Al Anan in Al Jawf Governortate Abs and Aljumhory in Hajjah Governorate Bajil in Al Hudaydah Governorate Monabbih and Razih in Saadah Governorate and Al-Azareq and Jehaf  in Al Dhale'e Governorate to provide this package of interventions according to their level. These facilities were selected based on their caseload, high volume operation.as well as ongoing or planned interventions by other partners to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication. In this, UNFPA will work closely with WHO, WFP, and UNICEF and other organizations engaging in the provision of health, nutrition, and protection services within the auspices of the Cluster Coordination structures for the health, nutrition and GBV sectors and indeed the overall coordination architecture of the Yemen humanitarian response. The health facilities will be empowered through support to human resources, provision of necessary supplies and equipment needed to provide the package defined above. Minimal outreach services to areas with high density populations, particularly displaced persons’ collection centers that do not have access to fixed health facilities will also be supported.

As identified by the Reproductive Health Interagency Working Group partners, the project will procure the Inter-Agency Reproductive Health kits and distribute to partners to enable them provide quality reproductive health services in the targeted districts.

At the community level, capacity of community midwives