The Tragedy of War: Partnerships and strategies to deliver essential health care to vulnerable Yemeni children & babies

As part of LSTM's 125th Anniversary we are delighted to welcome Professor Najla Al-Sonboli to deliver the prestigious Leverhulme Lecture. 

In her first public lecture outside of Yemen, Najla will critically explore approaches to delivering health services in challenging environments; drawing upon her first-hand experiences, her partnership with LSTM and the support she has received from Habibti Liverpool and the wider community.

As well as considering the challenges of Global Health systems in Low- and Middle- Income Countries, which can be especially vulnerable to sudden change and shocks, Najla will explore the additional impacts of conflict and gender inequality. These two issues are endemic in Yemen - a country which has seen a violent and prolonged civil war since 2014 and has been consistently ranked as one of the most inequitable for women and girls in the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap. Najla will share lessons learnt which have a wider resonance beyond Yemen and her hopes for the future.

We look forward to welcoming Professor Al-Sonboli to the UK to deliver LSTM’s prestigious Leverhulme Lecture as part of our 125 anniversary public lecture series. Please come and join us and learn more about inspirational health worker leadership and resilience in very challenging circumstances.

Background

Professor Al-Sonboli is the head of the Paediatric Department at Al-Sabeen Hospital for Maternity and Children in Yemen’s largest city of Sana’a and is an LSTM research partner, alumna and honorary degree awardee. She was also recognised by the World Health Assembly as a Heroine for Health for her tireless and inspiring work in her home country of Yemen. For the last 8 years, Najla has led a team with compassionate leadership, to deliver essential health care for extremely vulnerable children and babies, with minimal resources, and in a context of ongoing war, disease outbreaks and severe food shortages.

Professor Sally Theobald, Professor of International Public health at LSTM, said: “Najla is a true heroine. Her work and dedication to children’s health and lives is unrivalled. She is an amazing and inspirational leader in health delivery in war and is continuing to work with resilience and passion in the face of the many challenges war brings to a crumbling health system and children’s health. She is motivating others to continue providing health services as she does, without the necessary resources, financial, medical or other, in order to save lives and bring hope to children and their families in Sana’a.”