Meet Rahema, the fearless Community Health Volunteer
28-year-old Rahema graduated from high school in 2006 — yet until she found out about International Medical Corps, her life had been one led behind closed doors. Rahema was born with a physical disability that affects both her arms and hands. Feeling conscious of her ‘deformity’, Rahema avoided people outside of her family for fear of being ridiculed.
There is a severe shortage of 40 psychiatrists working in Yemen; in 2017, the ratio worked out to one psychiatrist for every 700,000 people or so. Sadly, this vast imbalance between need and available care reflects the scarcity of healthcare in Yemen, where more than half of the county’s population lack access. Too few healthcare providers and a lack of understanding regarding physical disabilities left Rahema feeling isolated and trapped within the confines of her own home.
However, when International Medical Corps started to recruit people for a ‘Water and Sanitation for Health’ program, Rahema saw an opportunity.
The program trains local community members in good hygiene practices, helping address an urgent need in the country, where waterborne disease such as cholera are rampant and access to clean sources of water is low. In such an environment, training about good hygiene practices can truly be lifesaving for communities.
Rahema was selected to be a Community Health Volunteer — welcoming International Medical Corps into her life.
Rahema received training on hygiene practices, including the importance of handwashing, then began to share her knowledge with those around her, starting with her neighbors, then moving into the wider community to raise awareness and promote life-saving actions.
“Through my work on promoting, I saw all kinds of people cooperating with me. They were so happy and excited.”
Now, Rahema no longer feels confined to her home. Instead, she spends her time with as many community members as possible.
“Before my participation, I was full of fear and sadness. Now, all of those bad feelings are changed and replaced with confidence and strength.”
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