We are an international health research institute based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Our research is addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
We aim to ensure that our evidence and experience is widely shared.
Stay up to date with our research and activities.
12 OCT 2017
Physicians and nurses from war-torn Yemen visited icddr,b to learn expert knowledge needed to tackle cholera outbreaks.
With support from the charity Kuwaiti Women Philanthropic Team, the visiting Yemeni health professionals participated in weeklong hands-on training on cholera and malnutrition case management at icddr,b’s Dhaka Hospital during 5-12 October.
The team took valuable experience from icddr,b back home where hundreds of thousands of people were battling a countrywide cholera outbreak.
Slide left/right for more photos.
The Yemen team at icddr,b learns about theraputic food for children with severe acute malnutrition.
Â
icddr,b, as a founding member of GOARN, regularly deploys experts during emergency disease outbreaks worldwide to assist WHO and governments, including most recent visits in Sudan, Iraq, Syria and Ethiopia.
“However, we could not arrange to send a team to Yemen due to security concerns this time,” said Dr Azharul Islam Khan, icddr,b chief physician and head of hospitals.
In response to the Yemen crisis, the Kuwaiti philanthropy has sponsored the visit for these 20 Yemeni doctors and nurses for the training course at the world’s largest diarrhoeal disease treatment facility in Dhaka.
Mr Syed Monjurul Islam, deputy executive director of icddr,b says, “Over the past year, we had become increasingly concerned about cholera in Yemen. We are thankful to the Kuwaiti Women’s Philanthropic Network for supporting our humanitarian mission.”
The Yemen team toured through icddr,b Dhaka hospital
According to WHO, during August 2017 alone, Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population reported a total of 152,216 cholera cases including 117 associated deaths. The lack of infrastructure in the country coupled with the current humanitarian crisis has created ideal conditions for the disease to flourish.
Violence in the country has displaced millions, who are now living with inadequate shelter, water, sanitation, and food. Afflicted by droughts and a lack of water, Yemen is considered to be among the most water-stressed countries in the world. Approximately half of all health sector facilities, including hospitals and clinics have been destroyed since the conflict escalated in 2016.
The inauguration event on October 5 was also addressed by Mr Fayed OTN Al Shammari from the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Dhaka, icddr,b scientists and doctors among others.
