“It’s not just about the wounded: there are pregnant women and children who need urgent care”
In western Yemen, Mocha General Hospital is one of the few health facilities still providing essential medical care to women and children following the recent escalation in the conflict. Sara Ahmed, Health Promotion Supervisor for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Mocha, describes the growing needs and the immense challenges faced by patients and medical teams.
In a voice message shared on 16 September, Sara explains how Mocha General Hospital has become a lifeline in a city where access to medical care has become increasingly difficult.
“We have had to scale back some of our activities and focus on the most essential services. The [health workers] remaining at the hospital are (…) working under very difficult circumstances and doing everything they can to keep the services running.”
MSF has been providing medical and humanitarian assistance in the region of Mocha since 2018, with a particular focus on the city of Mocha, Mafraq and Al Khawkha.
Over the years, this work has centered mainly on maternal and child healthcare, as well as referring patients who require more advanced or specialised care. However, the recent escalation in the conflict has meant that MSF has had to scale back some of its activities.
“We are doing everything we can to keep essential medical services running at Mocha General Hospital, particularly for women and children.”
With most of Mocha’s other health facilities currently unable to operate due to a lack of personnel, the General Hospital has become a critical lifeline for people in need of medical care. As of 14 September, 30 patients were receiving treatment at the hospital, including babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and four women who were giving birth.
Yet, providing care in these circumstances remains extremely challenging.
Sara describes the fear and pressure that the ongoing violence creates for both patients and medical teams.
“Last night we heard airstrikes, which obviously heighten the fear and pressure felt by both the local population and our teams.
Despite these challenges, Sara says the team remains focused on providing care to those who need it most.
“We are here to provide medical assistance. And as long as we can do so safely, we will continue to do everything we can to support those who still need it. At the end of the day, this isn’t just about MSF or our teams. It’s about a pregnant woman who needs an emergency caesarean section. It’s about a sick child who needs treatment.”
In addition to Mocha, MSF teams are responding to the direct impact of the current situation in other parts of the country. They are supporting hospitals in Aden, Hodeidah, Abs, Taiz, Al-Bayda and Al-Jawf by strengthening their triage capacity and providing them with essential medicines, medical supplies and trauma kits.
MSF in Yemen
As this situation continues to evolve, MSF teams remain committed to providing essential medical care to the people caught up in this conflict for as long as it is safe to do so.
