National Safe Motherhood Alliance (NSMA) of Yemen: A Year in Review

The National Safe Motherhood Alliance (NSMA) of Yemen partnered with several government institutions and non-governmental organizations in 2011 to achieve its goals of social mobilization, media outreach and exposure, youth activities and capacity building.  Below are some of the highlights:

• The National Safe Motherhood Alliance of Yemen conducted three community mobilization sessions for safe motherhood issues in January which targeted the members of the general assembly.
• NSMA organized a training course in February for twenty women leaders from both government institutions and non-governmental organizations.
• A workshop was held in February on social mobilization to raise awareness about safe motherhood legislation and advocacy to support the draft of a Safe Motherhood Law.

• NSMA established a new committee in the Hajjah governorate and later a workshop was held in the governorate for 25 male and female social educators volunteers for two days in November 2011. The workshop meant to give the participants an overview of safe motherhood and childhood according to the Guide of Mothers' and Neonates' Health.
• Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Information, NSMA organized a training workshop in January for 36 media workers from the audio, visual and printed sectors of private and government media in Yemen to raise awareness of safe motherhood issues.
• With the aim of advocating for the role of midwives, NSMA cooperated with the Midwives’ Association to prepare a documentary about midwives and their roles in the society.  This documentary was launched under the sponsorship of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Amt al-Razzaq Ali Humad (funded by DFID).
• NSMA conducted a community mobilization session for youth, which addressed a number of important issues pertinent to reproductive health.

• NSMA signed a new agreement with RGP-USAID to advocate for the Free Delivery Decree in Governmental Health Public Sectors in Yemen. The duration of the project is 10 months and it began this January, 2012.
• NSMA held a course to improve institutional work and building staff capacity, in support of the strategic goals of the Alliance.
• The Alliance office prepared materials for an awareness kit on safe motherhood issues and also prepared materials for the calendar for 2012

Thank you to NSMA for sharing your accomplishements in 2012. If you would like more information about any of these activities please contact NSMA National Coordinator, Dr. Akram Alsharjabi (nsma.yemen@yahoo.com).