Sana'a: The National Center for Central Public Health Laboratories and the National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research organized a press conference in the capital Sana'a to highlight the severe repercussions of the Saudi blockade on Yemen's diagnostic medicine sector and its impact on laboratory services and blood transfusion centers.
According to Yemen News Agency, the conference was attended by Dr. Essam Al-Rumaima, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for the Health Studies and Research Sector, and Dr. Abdul-Ilah Al-Harazi, Director General of the Public Health Laboratories Center. Dr. Al-Harazi discussed the significant challenges facing diagnostic laboratory medicine due to the Saudi blockade, emphasizing the disruption of supply chains for medical reagents and supplies, the halting of internal and external training programs, and the challenges in procuring necessary items for service delivery.
The blockade, as explained by Dr. Al-Harazi, has negatively affected the quality of laboratory services and blood transfusion operations, impacting both public and private sectors. Dr. Yasser Al-Qubati and Mohsen Allahba from the National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research highlighted the humanitarian crisis facing thousands of patients due to a severe shortage of blood supplies and the difficulties in accessing donations, exacerbated by the blockade.
A statement from the Ministry of Public Health and Environment, read by Spokesperson Dr. Anis Al-Asbahi, emphasized the existential crisis faced by the health sector due to the blockade, which has restricted imports and inflated shipping costs. The blockade has caused a near-total paralysis of services in medical laboratories and blood banks, depriving millions of healthcare access and pushing health institutions to the brink of collapse.
The statement detailed the widespread destruction of health sector infrastructure, power outages, and severe shortages of critical testing supplies and reagents. It highlighted a 59% deficit in essential testing supplies, threatening the closure of over 1,500 health facilities and 400 blood banks and laboratories. The lack of reagents for screening blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis has turned blood transfusions into a potential source of fatal infection risk.
Furthermore, essential diagnostic tests in intensive care and emergency units have ceased, worsening the plight of patients with kidney failure and cancer. The statement condemned the international community's negligence and criticized the United Nations for its politicization of humanitarian aid, which has exacerbated the suffering of Yemenis.
The Ministry called for the immediate lifting of the blockade and the unconditional opening of airports and ports to allow for the delivery of essential medical supplies and fuel. It also demanded accountability for the Saudi regime's actions and an end to the international silence on the crimes committed in Yemen.
The press conference underscored the dire situation facing Yemen's healthcare system and the urgent need for international intervention to alleviate the humanitarian crisis precipitated by the blockade.
