Yemen SIG
Vision and Aims
Yemen is currently in its tenth year of conflict but is largely out of view of the rest of the world except for recent events in the Red Sea. The country has significant public health needs and opportunities for action by the global community.
Our vision as a Special Interest Group (SIG) is to enable action that addresses the public health needs of Yemenis. This vision has three distinct but interconnected aims for the next three years:
- Advocate for Yemen and raise the profile of its needs and opportunities.
- Strengthen public health skills and research capabilities of health practitioners in Yemen or projects relating to Yemen.
- Support knowledge sharing and networking between those with an interest in improving public health outcomes for Yemen.
Objectives
- Provide a forum for FPH members who are interested in the contribution that public health can make to improving the health of the population of Yemen in a war and post war situation.
- Contribute new ideas and possible policy avenues to the agenda of the health in Yemen.
- Pilot and evaluate the use of social media to disseminate preventative messages to populations displaced by war and to areas where the health system has collapsed.
- Support the work of the Global Violence Prevention SIG (by drawing the practical experience of the Yemen SIG) in collating and developing a body of evidence-based knowledge on what are the important actions to take to develop and rebuild the health system during and post conflict.
Chair
The Yemen SIG is chaired by Ann Hoskins (drannhoskins@gmail.com) and reports to the Faculty's Global Health Committee.
Join the Yemen SIG
FPH members can join this SIG by logging into their FPH members’ portal account, selecting the ‘Committees/SIGs’ button and choosing the correct SIG. You will then be asked to provide a few details, following which your application will be automatically approved. Further details on FPH membership are available here.
SIG's newsletter
The Yemen SIG has committed to producing a quarterly newsletter to highlight some of the group's work and opportunities. The first edition is available in the link below.
Yemen SIG Quarterly Newsletter | Autumn 2023
SIG updates
- Yemen SIG update May 2019
- Yemen SIG update July 2019
- Update on Yemen Mobile Health Project December 2019
- Yemen SIG update March 2020
- Update on Yemen Mobile Health Project June 2020
- Information on the situation in Yemen June 2020
Workplan
Activity: Develop opportunities to collaborate with a range of charitable advocacy organisations in the UK/Yemen, working for Political advocacy for Yemen
Outcome: Increase opportunities for Yemen SIG to engage with and enhance political advocacy work towards peace in Yemen.
Target date: Establish a database for potential organisations to work with in UK/Yemen by June 2023.
Named lead: Taher Qassim and Rachel Handley
Progress to date: Initial contacts made with organisations (on-going)
Outputs: Identify organisations in the UK/Yemen working in political advocacy for Yemen. As organisations are identified, to explore and capture opportunities for collaboration, networking, and funding opportunities for potential public health projects in Yemen. Negotiate terms of partnership arrangements with the identified organisations.
Activity: Political advocacy work (politicians) with Yemeni diaspora
Outcome: As a partner of the National Reconciliation Movement, provide Yemen-specific expertise for political advocacy work. Support public health activities in Yemen through obtaining backing from NRM.
Target date: Develop a project proposal on reintroducing PHC in 3 of Taiz districts
Named lead: Taher Qassim
Progress to date: In discussion with NRM-UK and local authorities in Taiz
Outputs: Attendance at relevant group meetings and events. Sharing of events with wider network. To write a summary of involvement as part of quarterly communications
Activity: Help develop programme for public health practitioners with IAPH (International Association of Public Health / PRAXIS)
Outcome: Agree with IAPH and Praxis Three public health courses to be translated into Arabic for public health practitioners. Identify funding for translation of courses. Explore further opportunities to improve public health skills.
Target date: March 2024 / December 2024
Named lead: Taher Qassim / Ann Hoskins
Progress to date: Potential Courses are: Research methods, Critical Appraisal and Literature review
Outputs: Report on progress with courses
Activity: Collaboration with People-Praxis and Health Professionals for Yemen (HPY-UK). Povision of mentoring for public health practitioners in Yemen. Provide support to publish papers on primary research in Yemen.
Outcome: Provide 1:1 support for individuals seeking to carry out research in Yemen as part of an academic course, offer mentoring both undergraduate and Masters’ degree in public health. Finalise Yemen Dental Health literature review.
Target date: On-going
Named lead: Taher Qassim & Ann Hoskins / Taher Qassim / Mahdi Muthar
Progress to date: 12 people have been on mentoring platform. Second draft of Literature review being written.
Outputs: 12 mentees and 8 mentors are expected to get involved in the programme for 2024. Literature review published.
Activity: Provide public health teaching and training for Yemeni health workforce who are interested in public health in Yemen (on-line)
Outcome: Upskill non-public health Yemeni workforce on basic public health skills and knowledge
Target date: Explore opportunities for teaching and training
Named lead: Taher/Mahdi, HPY-UK to initiate discussions
Progress to date: Initial scoping has identified some interested workforce and training topics
Outputs: Produce a detailed plan of online communication between partners in the UK and partners in Yemen, institution, CSO, and individuals if interest in pursuing
Activity: Develop and maintain a database of contacts and experts on Yemen
Outcome: Improve collaboration and networking opportunities for those interested in contributing to SIG aims for Yemen
Target date: On-going (ensuring GDPR compliant)
Named lead: Rachel Handley
Progress to date: To start January 2024
Outputs: An open-access directory of contacts that is reviewed and updated annually. Share quarterly SIG updates with those contacts that wish to receive it.
Activity: Quarterly communications
Outcome: Raise awareness of the situation in Yemen and keep track of any work taken on by members of the SIG and potential opportunities for projects or support against priorities
Target date: First briefing Autumn 2023. On-going
Named lead: Rachel Handley
Progress to date: Quarterly during 2024
Outputs: Briefings on the situation in Yemen and work taken up by SIG members to be published on the FPH website
Activity: Develop a mechanism for the SIG and its members to provide expert peer review on projects, teaching materials, papers and conferences
Outcome: Build on academic support and mentoring schemes described above to identify if this would be feasible
Progress to date: To review if capacity and interest, based on academic partnership and mentoring programmes, in September 2023
Activity: Strategic approach to public health workforce development of Yemen so skills valuable and ‘public health workers are employable’
Outcome: Scope out potential project
Target date: 2025
Named lead: Bothania Attal
Webinar recordings
This webinar addressed the following topics:
- Defining conflict through a public health lens
- Examples of public health work in the context of conflict
- Does public health have a role for peace or conflict prevention?
This event was jointly organised by the FPH Yemen, Sudan, and Global Violence Prevention SIGs. It took place on 8 April 2024 as part of series of learning webinars during Global Public Health Week.
