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October 19TH, 2024 ― Doha, Qatar: With funding from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched an integrated emergency response to cholera in Yemen, with the aim of strengthening the medical capacity of 26 medical facilities to control the epidemic in six governorates, at a total cost of QR 1,825,000.
To ensure an effectiveness and impactful intervention, certain criteria were used to select the target locations, including epidemic prevalence rates and the overpopulated areas of high response priority and most affected population density in Amanat Al-Asimah, Sana’a, Taiz, Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, and Dhale.
The three-month project provides full medical support to (1) operate five diarrheal treatment centres (DTC); (2) create 21 oral rehydration corners/therapy (ORCs/ORTs) to provide treatment, prevention, referral, and health awareness services at the target facilities and nearby communities; (3) provide medications, medical supplies, and hygiene/sterilization/rapid text tools; (4) pay for staff remunerations; (5) provide health education training for volunteers; and (6) distribute water purification filters to 200 families.
An orientation session was held to introduce the project management and field personnel to project details and activities, which include purchasing and supplying medical solutions, medications, supplies, and equipment; providing cleaning, sterilization and rapid test tools; paying for health staff remunerations; training of health education volunteers; referring patients; and distributing water purification filters and hygiene kits, in coordination with the Water and Environmental Sanitation Cluster and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Earlier this year, QRCS had implemented an emergency cholera response intervention, which involved creating/supporting ORCs/ORTs; providing medications, medical supplies, operational expenses, health workers remunerations, and referrals; and promoting health awareness at five medical facilities in Mabyan District, Hajjah Governorate, northwestern Yemen.
At a total cost of $33,000, the three-month project helped treat 6,125 patients with acute diarrhea.
Cholera has been spreading again in Yemen since last February. With the heavy rainfall and flash floods recently hitting parts of the country, infection rates are likely to increase, especially among malnourished children, pregnant women, older persons, and patients with chronic diseases.
Last August, UNICEF announced 668 deaths and 172,023 acute diarrhea and cholera suspected cases. In an earlier report, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated a possible 255,000 suspected cases by September, amid a daily rate of 500-1,000 suspected cases.
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About Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS)
Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is Qatar’s first humanitarian and volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.
QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 191 National Societies. It is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent (ICIC) and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian and social efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.
Both locally and internationally, QRCS has relief and development operations in numerous countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central and South America. Its humanitarian mandates include disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and risk reduction. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, food, water, shelter, and other needs of local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy front.
With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity, inspired by the seven Fundamental Principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.