Non Communicable Disease in Yemen

Yemen is a country devastated by war and conflict, with a population dying from communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries.⁶ Currently, Yemen is facing the world’s largest food security emergency and the largest cholera epidemic ever recorded.^1,2 Since March of 2015 the Yemeni civil war has been underway. The years of fighting have destroyed infrastructure, public services, and lives. An estimated 22.2 million Yemeni people need humanitarian aid, and 16.4 million need health assistance.^1,2 The analysis by the humanitarian needs overview showed that 50% of avoidable deaths in Yemen were due to communicable diseases in 2015. Another 39% of avoidable deaths were due to NCDs.^1,6 Yet NCDs are not being made a national priority in Yemen.

International efforts, media, and aid have been sourced towards communicable diseases, malnutrition, hospital infrastructure and conflict in Yemen.¹ These efforts have been increasingly successful at reducing the deadly impacts of such catastrophic events. However, a gap remains in media attention and international funding which have failed to address the burden of NCDs, which now contribute to almost the same percentage of avoidable deaths as communicable diseases in Yemen. Depression is of particular concern.

For the full Article: The Depression Crisis in Yemen 2019_Paige_OLeary