In the Al-Dawajin area of Dar Saad, Aden, many families face significant obstacles in accessing essential healthcare, often due to widespread misinformation. This was the case for Bissam, aged 18 months, and his two-year-old sister, Dunia. Living in a community where rumours about vaccine safety are common, the two children had missed their routine immunisations, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The challenge became clear in March 2025, when INTERSOS Community Health Volunteers first visited the family. They met with strong resistance, particularly from the children’s grandmother, who expressed deep-seated fears based on local misconceptions. In this region, such hesitation is a frequent barrier that puts children at risk of serious illnesses like measles, polio, and diphtheria.
To address these concerns, thanks to the European Union’s humanitarian support, our vaccination team and community volunteers adopted a patient and empathetic approach. Rather than challenging the family’s views directly, they conducted a series of home visits and community dialogues. They shared clear, factual information about how vaccines are tested and explained that other children in the neighbourhood had been vaccinated through INTERSOS without any adverse effects. By focusing on the safety of the children and the health of the wider community, the team worked to build a relationship of trust.
This consistent and sensitive outreach eventually led to a breakthrough. After several discussions, the children’s mother felt confident in the benefits of immunisation. Both Bissam and Dunia were taken to the local health centre to receive their overdue vaccinations and have now been enrolled in the full national immunisation schedule.
Overcoming the resistance against vaccination
The story of Bissam and Dunia highlights the vital role of community-based health workers in South Yemen. It demonstrates that by building trust and providing clear, culturally sensitive information, it is possible to overcome deep-rooted hesitations and ensure that vulnerable children receive the life-saving care they deserve.
INTERSOS vaccinator says:
“During our mobile visits to the camps, we often encounter families who are hesitant to vaccinate their children due to misconceptions and fear. Many households live in extremely difficult conditions with limited access to accurate health information. Through continuous dialogue, patience, and repeated home visits and awareness efforts, we work to address these concerns and build trust. Seeing children finally receive their vaccinations after overcoming initial resistance is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work”
This story is part of a broader intervention funded by the European Union, through which INTERSOS delivers integrated primary healthcare services to vulnerable populations in Yemen. As of the end of March 2026, a total of 86,138 new consultations were provided through primary healthcare services, including 69,960 outpatient (OPD) consultations. Preventive and maternal health services remained a key priority, with 9,166 children accessing vaccination services and 6,778 pregnant and lactating women benefiting from antenatal and postnatal care, including 4,622 ANC and 2,156 PNC consultations. Additionally, 1,233 safe deliveries were supported by skilled midwives. The referral system also played a critical role, with 568 patients referred to hospitals, of whom 558 were admitted for further treatment. Emergency and life-saving services were delivered to 128 medical emergency cases, including 61 comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) cases and 265 trauma and emergency surgery cases. Furthermore, 27 patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, including 77 children admitted to pediatric ICUs, highlighting the essential role of the intervention in ensuring access to critical and specialized healthcare services.