4 September 2024, Marib, Yemen – Kara Hospital is a critical health service provider for over 2 million people from Marib and neighbouring governorates such as Al Bayda, Al Jawf and Shabwah. Having opened its doors in 2010, it was upgraded to a governorate hospital in 2017.
Its strategic location on the main road between Yemen and Saudi Arabia makes it a critical first responder to road traffic injuries. The hospital also provides a wide range of services, including general emergency care, various surgical services, and maternal and child health services, as well as outpatient services. It does this in a context of thousands of people having been internally displaced to Marib by the war and amid damage to other health facilities.
In 2023, Kara Hospital took significant strides to enhance its quality of care by creating a dedicated quality team. With WHO’s support, the hospital assessed and improved its compliance with national quality standards, achieving an impressive 86% compliance rate. The Minister of Public Health and Population recently recognized the hospital’s dedication to quality and patient safety with an award.
Kara Hospital’s quality team has worked to enhance infection prevention and control; set up a central sterilization department; and formed a committee for continuous improvement, based on the local burden of morbidity and mortality.
The hospital has focused on efficient medical waste management; regular workforce training; and patient rights, ensuring high-quality, respectful care. A culture of accountability has been promoted through regular audits, departmental competitions to uphold quality standards, and community engagement through health awareness campaigns.
These efforts have led to substantial community trust, and support from local authorities to enhance hospital infrastructure. A maternal and child health building, an administrative building and a power station have been added, and extensive landscaping efforts made.
The hospital’s dedication to quality care is clear from its service use figures. In 2023, it was responsible for about 100 000 outpatient visits, mostly from women and girls; 55 000 emergency department visits; 10 000 inpatient admissions; and 10 000 births.
With the support of WHO, the community and local authorities, Kara Hospital has become a pillar of quality health care provision in Marib – both for internally displaced people and host communities.
WHO supports quality of care capacity-building in this hospital as part of the Emergency Human Capital Project implemented in partnership with the World Bank.
