Child Dies After Wrong Injection; Infant Suffers Broken Thigh in Houthi-Controlled Areas

Reports of deteriorating medical safety standards in Houthi-controlled regions have intensified following two recent medical tragedies in the governorates of Amran and Dhamar. One incident resulted in the death of a six-year-old child, while the other led to an infant suffering a fractured thigh bone within a private hospital's incubator.

In Amran Governorate, a routine medical visit turned into a tragedy for the family of six-year-old Ahmed Majed Mallana, who died at Al-San'aniyah Hospital in Bani Suhaim district due to a severe medical error and negligence in established protocols. Local and medical sources indicated that the child was admitted with mild symptoms of a cold and cough. However, medical staff administered an antibiotic injection without performing the mandatory allergy test. The child's grieving father confirmed that the hospital ignored the testing procedure despite his bringing the test vial from the pharmacy. Shortly after the injection, the child experienced vomiting, lost consciousness, and passed away immediately.

In an attempt to evade responsibility, the attending physician claimed the test had been conducted, a narrative vehemently denied by the victim's family. Human rights advocates are calling for a transparent investigation to bring justice for the child and hold those responsible accountable.

Similarly, in Dhamar Governorate, a shocking incident occurred at Fawaz Omran Hospital. An infant from the Radmah district of Ibb Governorate suffered a fractured thigh bone while receiving treatment in the hospital's incubator. X-ray images, medical reports, and a video of the specialist doctor clearly documented a fracture in the thigh of the days-old infant. Instead of acknowledging the error and providing necessary care, the hospital administration expelled the child and their family, demonstrating a profound lack of basic humanity and professionalism.

The infant's family has issued an urgent appeal, holding the Houthi-controlled Health Office in Dhamar responsible for the lack of oversight and demanding the immediate closure of the incubator and an investigation into the staff involved in this alleged malpractice. These consecutive incidents highlight the catastrophic state of the health sector in areas under Houthi control, where the replacement of qualified personnel with unqualified individuals, the absence of governmental oversight, and weak judicial accountability have transformed medical facilities into genuine threats to public safety, particularly for children.

Activists and human rights defenders have sounded the alarm, urging remaining medical personnel to strictly adhere to safety procedures, including the necessity of performing direct allergy tests before administering any intravenous injections or antibiotics. They have warned against the continued disregard for human lives amidst the administrative chaos imposed by the militia.