4 September 2024, Marib, Yemen – Marib General Hospital, established in 2005, is located near active conflict zones and amid a hub of displaced populations. As such, it serves as a critical health facility for some of the most vulnerable.
With a 180-bed capacity and an average bed occupancy of 75%, it caters to a vast catchment area of 3 million people, handling more than 10000 inpatient cases annually.
In response to pressing needs, the hospital has made several attempts to establish a quality team. The latest effort, in 2022, was successful, and the team has been instrumental in applying the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and enhancing quality across multiple areas, even amid severe patient overcrowding. These areas include infection prevention and control, and sterilization.
This commitment to quality has set Marib General Hospital apart from other facilities. It has also cemented the hospital’s relationship with local authorities, which have provided financial support in recognition of the hospital’s role in alleviating the health burden on the governorate. The hospital management’s dedication to quality health care is further evidenced by the engagement of an external quality specialist, funded via local authority support.
A WHO team visited the hospital in March 2023 and commended its implementation of quality, safety, and infection control measures across departments. Marib General Hospital stands out for its ongoing workforce training, self-financing initiatives, and proactive approach to continuous evaluation and improvement. Regular management meetings are held to discuss service quality, identify service gaps and come up with solutions. Special meetings consider patient morbidity and mortality to improve care outcomes.
Effective use of quality standards demonstrates a comprehensive approach to ensuring patient safety and quality. Among others, the hospital has implemented the Surgical Safety Checklist, as well as the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist; infection control protocols; water, sanitation and hygiene standards; and standards for the management of pharmaceutical supplies.
Through these measures, Marib General Hospital not only addresses the immediate health needs of its community but also lays the foundations for ongoing improvements in health service delivery. In this way, it serves as a model of resilience.
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.
