The Yemeni government has authorized a new emergency protocol for stemming the spread of the coronavirus in the country, the Supreme National Emergency Committee (SNEC) reported on Thursday.
SNEC, in a meeting with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, endorsed the protocol which tackles the threat of a second wave of the virus hitting Yemen. This measure coincides with infection cases surging worldwide.
The code entails a host of strategies that not only work on limiting the spread of the virus, but also boost the health sector’s overall response promptness.
Bracing for the impact of a second outbreak, it focuses on cementing coordination between the SNEC and local authorities and raising public awareness.
Additionally, plans will be set in motion to deal with both limited and widespread outbreaks. They involve institutions in the public and private sectors, schools, universities, and mosques.
Financial strategizing and budget management to fight the pandemic are also part of the protocol. Protecting healthcare workers and regulating civilian travel are also core factors to the arrangement.
Abdulmalik stressed the need to abide by the protocol, according to state-run Saba news agency. He directed ministries and concerned authorities to take all necessary measures to handle a second wave of the coronavirus in Yemen.
Ministries were also urged to increase coordination with international partners and donor organizations to improve the readiness of the health sector, secure medical equipment and train more healthcare professionals.
In other news, Yemeni caretaker Health Minister Nasser Baoum briefed the SNEC about his recent meeting with officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The meeting was focused on ways of supporting government efforts to curb the reemergence of polio in Saada governorate and preventing its spread to other parts of Yemen.
Although Yemen was declared free of polio in 2006, a ban on vaccination implemented by Iran-backed militias triggered a resurfacing of the disease in Saada.
The SNEC, for its part, urged holding vaccination campaigns in the governorates of Saada, Hajjah, Amran and Al-Jawf.
