New facility a big helpTraining female health workers in Marib [Archives:2004/713/Health]

The new dormitory for female students at the Health Institute in Marib founded in late January, means that the governorate has now its own Health Institute, where female students of nursing and midwifery can be trained.
Symbolically it shows that the government has recognized the importance of enabling all governorates to look after themselves and to make female staff available for the health services.
About 70% of the population are women and children under 5 years of age. Especially in regions with strong traditions this population group can only be reached by health services if the peripheral health facilities have female staff.
Only women from the communities in Marib will be ready and able to work in remote areas of the governorate, and only if the training facility is under their watch, will families in Marib allow their daughters to be trained for modern professions.
Therefore the event is a breakthrough for the Marib in many regards.
The construction was financed and guided by the German Development Cooperation for Health. Involving a local firm and local daily manpower was part of the strategy to contribute also to economic development in disadvantaged regions.
The building with 3 floors was completed in 12 months and with a high standard. The opening ceremony was attended, among others, by the Dep. Governor, the General Director of Health in Marib, the deputy of the German Ambassador, the directors of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the German Development Service (DED), as well as the managers of the Family Health & Family Planning and Health Sector Advisory Projects of GTZ.
The German Development Cooperation has supported the health sector in Marib Governorate since 1998. The Governorate was jointly selected by the Ministry of Health and the German partners because health services seemed to reach not even 20% of the population, and also because development in the social sector would help to reduce the danger of conflicts in Marib.
In order to contribute to the achievement of the second objective and assure equity, from the very beginning support was given to all 14 districts of the governorate. The focus of the assistance is on improving family health/family planning as well as curative services and on establishing a solid district health management system. At the same time, capacity building in the Governorate Health Office is supported.
With regard to systematic management and cooperation between sectors and official local authorities, the governorate was in last place 5 years ago. The German side confirms that progress is satisfying, that for example the health centre in Marib Town has developed to be one of the best ones in all the 10 governorates supported by the German Cooperation.
The technical cooperation with the Health Office and especially its director general is good, and that they feel strongly supported by the very active Governor.
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