Providing Safe Motherhood Services to Underserved and Neglected Populations in Yemen: The Case for Vouchers

This article discusses how the use of vouchers in underserved states like Yemen can significantly improve access and quality of reproductive, maternal, and newborn healthcare services. It begins by providing an overview of the developmental context in Yemen, one of the poorest and most fragile countries in North Africa. They then present data from the Reproductive Health Voucher Program in Yemen to demonstrate how safe motherhood vouchers have provided a critical relief to the country’s failing healthcare system. During the time Yemen’s conflict was worsening and funding was unpredictable, the voucher programme effectively channeled funds to healthcare facilities to amplify the supply of essential maternal health services for women and their families in need.