Republic of Yemen
As of 2017, less than half of Yemenis (48.6%) had access to basic hand hygiene (HH) services and almost one quarter (24%) lacked a handwashing facility. Yemen’s low score of 0.29 and 0.08 on the HHAFT Tracker and Assessment’s 4-point scale, respectively, reflect the challenges of navigating the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Although focus on universal HH has not been a priority and there is no national policy, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), in collaboration with the WHO, UNICEF, and others, is working to identify inroads for HH improvement.
Tracker
| Milestone | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Prepare for Action | 0.40 |
| Analyse the Situation / Assess the Need | 0.25 |
| Prioritise Actions | 0.20 |
| Execute Plans | 0.33 |
| Monitor, Evaluate and Course Correct | 0.25 |
| Average | 0.29 |
It is too early in Yemen’s HH sector development to assess progress. A key recommendation for the government of Yemen and the MoPHP is to create a national coordination mechanism that can identify and engage relevant leaders and stakeholders in the development of national targets/indicators and a costed HH policy. This will provide a framework for the hygiene sector, and a foundation for creating strong enabling environments. Utilizing the existing assessment tool to collect baseline data and establish a clear understanding of HH situation and guide policy development.
Assessment
| Parameter | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Governance | 0.40 |
| Financing | 0.00 |
| Data and Information | 0.00 |
| Capacity Development | 0.00 |
| Innovation | 0.00 |
| Average | 0.08 |
Given the challenges faced by Yemen, and the early stage of the country’s hand hygiene sector, it is unsurprising that little progress has been made to date and the enabling environment for HH is weak. The greatest steps forward have been the identification of a lead ministry and relevant sectors and settings. Without a financing strategy or budget, it may be difficult to get stakeholders to the table to develop a HH policy and will be one of Yemen’s biggest barriers to making progress even after a national policy is developed.
