Minutes of Health Cluster Coordination Meeting Venue: unfpa office, Sana’a January 08, 2014

Minutes of Health Cluster Coordination Meeting

Venue: UNFPA Office, Sana’a

January 08, 2014

Attendances: WHO, IOM UNICEF, OCHA, Immap, ADRA, MSF Spain, MDM France, MMF, YMCS, IMC

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Name	Title	Organization	Email
Dr. Ghazi Ismail	Deputy minister of health	MOPHP	[e-mail]
Dr Dauod Altaf	Health Cluster Coordinator	WHO	[e-mail]
Dr Amal Alsuqaf	Health cluster coordinator assistant	WHO	[e-mail]
Dr Osan Ismail	EHA operation officer	WHO	[e-mail]
Gerald Maier	CD	ADRA	[e-mail]
Miriam Watt	Program Director	ADRA	[e-mail]
Ali Sariah	Emergency coordinator	MOPHP	[e-mail]
Bashar Bahran	IMO	Immap	[e-mail]
Haifa’a Harun	Program officer	NFDHR	[e-mail]
Tariq Mohey Al Zein	M & E	NFDHR	[e-mail]
Abeer A Alkohlani	Secretary	NFDHR	[e-mail]
Sofiah Alsaydi	Program manager	Relief International	[e-mail]
Abdullah Abosalah	Medco assistant	ICRC	asaleh@icrc,org
Fawzia Elsharief	Nutrition coordinator	IRC	[e-mail]
Saara Bouhouche	Grants & compliance manager	IRC	[e-mail]
Dr. Isam Awad	CSSW emergency coordinator	CSSW	[e-mail]
Wafa’a Alsaidy	Health officer	MDM-France	[e-mail]
Tereza Zakaria	Migration Health Programme Coordinator	IOM	[e-mail]
Sumaia Al Ariki	Public health officer	IOM	[e-mail]
Hamid Hussein	Health coordinator	HAD	[e-mail]
Waddah Mohammed	Project Manager	HAD	[e-mail]
Dr Ali Al Rassas	Chairman of MMF	Mercy Medical Foundation	[e-mail]
Ahmed Aldohma	Relief director	YMCS	[e-mail]
Mohammed Qahtan	Medical coordinator	YMCS	[e-mail]
Fares Saleh Moh.	Project officer	YFCA	[e-mail]
Salwa Aleryani	Health Specialist	UNICEF	[e-mail]
Ali Akohlani	Assist Head of Mission	MSFF	[e-mail]
Ghamdan Mofarreh	HRO	UNFPA	[e-mail]

Agenda:

• 
  Introduction
  
• 
  Partner updates
  
• 
  Service-provision to Saada IDPs in Sana'a.
  
• 
  Health Cluster contingency plan for new IDPs camp in Hajjah
  
• 
  Dammaj issue and possible interventions.
  
• 
  Situation in the South.
  
• 
  AoB
  

Action points:

• 
  Health Cluster strategy plan for 2014 to be shared with partners (Health Cluster)
  
• 
  Report of IDPs Survey done by YMCS in Sana’a to be shared with partners (YMCS)
  
• 
  Haradh Health sub cluster contingency plan to be shared with partners (Health Cluster)
  
• 
  Arrange a meeting between local NGOs, Health Cluster and MoH to discuss about their involvement in the health cluster and the support they provide. (Health Cluster)
  

Introduction and Opening:

The Health Cluster meeting was held on 8^th of January at UNFPA office in Sana’a. The meeting was opened by Dr. Ghazi Ismail, Deputy minister of curative care and Dr. Dauod Altaf, the Health Cluster Coordinator. It was started with opening remarks by Dr Ghazi regarding the importance of this meeting as the first meeting in 2014. He briefed the partners on current security situation and conflict in Sa’ada, Aljawf, Amran, Hajjah and Arhab near Sana’a in the north and the current events and violence in the south of the country as he reminded the partners of challenges ahead and the need for working together in containing the humanitarian impact of the conflicts on the Yemeni population. Afterward the participants introduced themselves.

Discussion notes/updates:

• 
  Introduction and opening remarks
  

• 
  The meeting began with opening remarks by the Dr Ghazi Ismail and Dr. Dauod Altaf, the Health Cluster Coordinator
  
• 
  Partners then introduced themselves.
  
• 
  Dr. Dauod said that we have to increase our capacities and resources to meet these challenges and started with a brief review of health cluster review 2013 with main highlights:
  

• 
  Health partners prioritized support for the most vulnerable, allowing them to reach 38% of target beneficiaries with only 32% of required funding received
  
• 
  Out of 4.2 million people targeted for emergency health assistance, 1.8 million people were reached
  
• 
  Limited health care, insufficient vaccination coverage, sporadic disease outbreaks and high rates of malnutrition, all contribute to
  

elevated mortality and morbidity rates in the country.

• 
  Along with its life-saving programs, the Cluster has prioritized greater sustainability in its activities including training, community mobilization, and disease surveillance and
  
• 
  Management. (details in attachment
  

• 
  Relief international presented their ERF funded project that was completed by end of 2013. The project included Health and WASH interventions aiming to improve access & quality of health services in 8 rural districts in Sana’a governorate., RI targeted 12 health units after an assessment done and main activities of the project were to rehabilitate wash facilities, furnishing some health facilities, build medical waste disposal incinerators and distribute of medical equipments. (to share the final report)
  

Partners update:
UNFPA: They have finalized their ERF funded project, which was focusing on provision of MISP, FP, SEI and provision of RH emergency kits, which they still have some in stock and will be distributed. the project has been implemented in partnership with YFCA.

In 2014, UNFPA will provide CemONC and BemONC kits to target health facilities and will conduct training sessions to health care provides.

The targeted governorates are: Aden, Lahij and Abyen in the south, Amran, Sa’ada and Hajja in the north.
IOM: is continuing support to the Yemeni returnees from KSA through a health clinic in Al Towal port providing food, water, health care services and NFIs.

Some statistics from the last weekly update report:

• 
  222,199 Yemenis have returned from KSA (from 1^st June- 20 Dec.)
  
• 
  37,346 were provided with food (from 1^st Oct.- 20 Dec.)
  
• 
  9,015 were provided with Health care (from 27^th Aug. – 2o Dec.)
  
• 
  3,493 were assisted with NFIs (from 1^st Oct. – 20 Dec.)
  

IOM have provided health services to more than 12% of those returnees so far, with 1,302 consultations from 14^th-20^th December, 100 of them required urgent health care due to various injuries and 1 pregnant woman was referred due to complications. Main cause of consultations is RTIs followed by trauma.

Harad clinic that is treating Ethiopian migrants started to receive Yemeni returnees as well. IOM is in need of support for referral of emergency cases from Al Towal port.

CSSW: signed an agreement with ERF OCHA to implement a health project, 2 mobile clinics in Harad and Mustaba districts, mainly aimed to fill the gap in provision of PHC services in the IDPs and host community population.

• 
  Total target beneficiaries is 15,000 people, more than half are IDPs.
  
• 
  The project duration is for 6 months.
  
• 
  Started on 5^th December 2013 by a preparation phase for recruiting staff, (5) medical staff and one field coordinator, procurement of drugs, medical enterprises, equipment, renting (2) vehicles and coordination with local communities, MoPH office in Harad and Mustaba and with WHO officer in Harad.
  
• 
  Target geographical areas are (5) locations in each district.
  
• 
  The mobile clinic operates daily (5) days a week through rotation.
  
• 
  The project launched its mobile clinic operation on Sunday 29/12/2013 in presence of Deputy Governor of Hajja and local authority officers.
  

HAD: They are running a health project funded by ERF in Abs district, which includes mainly health activities with some WASH & education components.

The health activities are consisting 1 mobile team of 9 staff rotating in 20 locations (now functioning in 8 locations) providing simple consultations, awareness sessions on hygiene and WASH, and some education materials for schools.

Last month, they had 1560 patients in all 8 outreach areas.

ADRA: they have 2 health projects, one in Al Mazraq camp 3, which with opening of the roads the team have resumed its operation in the camp with full capacity. .

In Al Jawf, they completed the Polio vaccination campaign in all districts except for two, Khabb w’a Sha’af and Al Mutamah districts, as they are in negotiations & hopefully they will start the vaccination campaign in the next few weeks.

They have ERF funded project in Al Jawf, through fixed and mobile health teams in 5 districts, where they provide medicines, routine vaccinations and awareness sessions to the local health facilities during the polio vaccination campaign.
YMCS: In December, YMCS have launched their project with the Qatari Red Cresent to provide care and referral services to to casualties of Dammaj conflict. Among120 cases were reassessed, only threeunderwent major operations and next week they will start surgical operation program for the casualties.

YMCS also conducted a survey on IDPs from Sa’ada who are in Sana’a and Amran governorates (The report will be shared in the coming days)

In Taizziah district in Taiz governorate, they have conducted a larvicidal spray campaign in collaboration with Al Baidah Foundation. They also focused on Dams, and pulling of factory disposal materials.

In Al Mina’a district of Al Hudaidah, outreach campaign for communicable diseases was conducted as the sewage are drowning the streets in the district.

In Abyen governorate, a medical campaign was conducted in Al Mahfad district for 10 days, providing consultations and medication.

IRC: They have health interventions in 2 governorates in the South: In Abyen, they have two mobile clinics covering 10 sites providing capacity building to MoH & community health staff, provision of medical supplies, rehabilitation of health facilities, rehabilitation of WASH facilities and CMAM project as well.

In Aden, they have one mobile clinic supporting Bir Ahmed health center after they withdraw from Al Buraiqa polyclinic.

Their plan for 2014, is to expand to Lahij governorate, including A Had and Al Madharbah districts; and in Al Dhale’a governorate, in Al Azareq and Al Hasha districts. It will be an integrated activity of Health/ WASH/and Nutrition.

They also plan to expand to Dar Saad district in Aden to provide the same integrated services, and they will change from mobile clinics to fixed facilities for all projects.

NFDHR: they work in Amran governorate, in Al Ashah district with partnership with Mercy Medical Foundation through an ERF funded project to improve the medical access to conflict affected people, targeting 12, 000 population.

They support three mobile teams each is covering five sites.They have also visited the IDPs in Dannan area who are in need of other emergency services, including Shelter.

Also the rural hospital in Al Ashah is in need of X ray technician, as they have the machine, and they are also in need of surgical services to respond to the casualties.
UNICEF: on 16^th December, MoH, UNICEF and WHO have conducted the vaccination campaign nationwide, UNICEF is providing support to local and international NGOs through integrated services, including WASH/ Health/and Nutrition and building capacity of health personnel focusing mainly on women and children.

WHO:

• 
  National:
  

• 
  MoH, WHO and UNICEF conducted a polio vaccination campaign all over the country from 16-18 December, targeted children under 5 are 4,628,602 with vaccination coverage of 98%, except for AlJawf.
  

• 
  Sa’ada:
  

• 
  WHO is supporting 7 districts out of 15 districts in Sa’ada with the following:
  

• 
  Supporting Aljumhouri general hospital in Sa`ada by 2 specialized teams:
  

• 
  In November: For Dammaj WHO provided chlorine tabs ( 150,000 ) through ICRC to be delivered to Dammaj: enough to purify 750,000 liters of water
  

• 
  Haradh:
  

• 
  WHO participated in the Joint assessment for the new IDPs in Haradh and will follow the Malaria Eradication Program for distribution of Mosquito nets as per recommendations.
  
• 
  WHO rescheduled the Health mobile teams in Haradh to cover the health needs of the new IDPs.
  
• 
  WHO team is providing health services for returnees in Al-Towal port.
  
• 
  The first phase of the physical rehab. and maintenance of Haradh hospital is finished (the external fence, electricity, ACs will arrive next week)
  

• 
  South:
  

• 
  Provided (2) First Aids Kits (A & B), (2) liters of Iodine, IV fluids and consumables to the Medical Committee in charge for emergencies, Aden governorate.
  
• 
  WHO dispatched (3 trauma A kits, 3 trauma B kits, 3 supplementary kits, 6 basic unit and 2 Diarrhea kits) from Sana’a to Aden warehouses.
  
• 
  WHO (Aden sub-office) sent ½ trauma kit (locally purchased) to Al-Nasr general hospital in Al-Dhale’a after the last mass casualty in Sanah.
  
• 
  WHO supported the reopening of Al Mahfad Hospital, that was closed for 3 years & will serve around 38, 000 population, WHO provided medications & medical supplies as well as a Surgeon & anestheologist. (50 operations so far)
  
• 
  WHO will send today some medication and medical supplies to Al Habileen and Al howtah in Lahj governorate to respond to any Mass Casualty. ()
  

• 
  Situation overview in conflict area:
  

Briefing on the national task force meeting, information about the IDPS is Sanaa, Al Jawf and Mareb as well as some IDPs in other areas in Kitaf.

Dammaj, still not safe for NGOs to enter and to provide assistance due to security constrains.

Also in Amran, there are IDPs from Khaiwan area, as well as Dannan and Al Qaflah.

In Haradh, the ceasfire was announced and all roads were accessible for UN/NGOS to move freely to Al Mazraq.

MSFE reopened their previously supported hospital in Haradh in response to the current situation.

More than 600 HHs arrived from AlMalaheet to Haradh, Hayran, Midi and Mustaba.

Haradh Health cluster prepared a contingency plan for worst case scenarios regarding the conflict in Sa’ada.

In the South, Manly clashes occurred in Al Dhale, Hadramout and some clashes in Aden and other governorates.

On 13^th January is the anniversary of the civil war, for which there might be huge demonstrations and preparations for any mass casualty must take place.

• 
  Service-provision to Saada IDPs in Sana'a.
  

Discussion about the meeting with Dr Naser Ba’om, vice minister of Health regarding provision of health services for IDPs from Sa’ada in Sana’a. Dr Ghazi, said that IDPs are suffering of over expenses of health services that they can’t afford.

He have met DR Amatallateef, the director of one health center as she is interested in family medicine in one center dedicated for IDPs, as the families can be provided with special health cards.

He suggested that the IDPs committee should submit a proposal of their needs or MoH with Health Cluster can work on a proposal to find solutions to provide assistance.

Dr Dauod suggested that MoH and partners working in Sana’a to meet and find out what are the needs and the means of support to IDPs in Sana’a.

• 
  Health Cluster contingency plan for new IDPs camp in Hajjah:
  

Health Sub cluster in Haradh have prepared a small contingency plan for 3 scenarios that may occur in Haradh, 2 of them already happened. ()

• 
  Dammaj situation:
  

Access to Dammaj is really difficult due to security situation, ICRC wase able to evacuated 35 war wounded & 2 dead bodies after the recent ceasefire of January 6th, and assessed the situation of Arhab affected by the ongoing fight.

Regarding the availability of drugs and staff in Dammaj, they provide them from time to time, and the health center in Dammaj was partially destroyed. Unprofessional staff in Dammaj are providing some sort of surgical or trauma management, but mostly they mismanaged patients according to YMCS.

OCHA and WFP are still trying negotiation with the local authorities to guarantee access for the humanitarian workers. The alternative will be to identify an implementing partners in case of secured access.

Sitrep of the North conflict will be produced by OCHA focusing on Needs, Gaps and responses & will be shared with the health cluster.

CSSW provided assistance, in November and early December, in four villages in Al Safraa districts, with food assistance, drugs and NFIs for 281 families.

• 
  AoB:
  

• 
  Dr Ghazi insisted on the importance of providing a monthly summary of all NGOs to the health cluster to be shared with the MoH on the activities, priority areas, needs, responses and gaps, in order to better monitor the situation and to avoid duplications.
  
• 
  Dr Dauod talked about the importance of information sharing and that informed the partners that WHO will organize and conduct a 3 days’ workshop to discuss the health cluster performance report and how to improve the health cluster coordination mechanism..
  
• 
  Dr Ghazi and Dr Dauod thanked all the partners for their attendance and participation.
  

Minutes of Health Cluster Coordination Meeting

^{January 08, 2014}