Health and Nutrition

At UMR, we are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities around the world.

Health and Nutrition

UMR believes quality, dignified healthcare is a human right. We respond to urgent health needs in conflict-affected and under-resourced regions, from hospitals in Sudan to refugee camps in Jordan and underserved areas in Yemen, while strengthening the systems communities rely on long after a crisis ends.

Strengthening Health Systems in Emergencies

Where health systems are strained or have collapsed, UMR works with ministries of health and local clinics to keep care running. We provide medicines, equipment, and staff training, set up mobile clinics, and support hospitals with primary, emergency, mental health, and trauma care.

 

 In Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Gaza, and Jordan, we've equipped hospitals with oxygen concentrators, ICU equipment, medicines, and Interagency Emergency Health Kits, each serving up to 10,000 people for three months. By training local health workers, we help quality care continue after emergency funding ends.

Treating Malnutrition

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death among children under five. Our CMAM programs in Sudan, Yemen, and Kenya diagnose and treat children with moderate or severe acute malnutrition early.

 

In Sudan, we support families through every step of recovery, from screening and therapeutic feeding to home visits and hospital referrals. We provide therapeutic food, supplements, and medicine, promote healthy infant feeding, and train community health workers so care continues beyond the project. 

Cataract Surgeries

Restoring Sight and Dignity

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and hearing loss can hold children back in school and life, yet both are highly treatable. UMR provides free cataract surgeries, hearing aids, and follow-up care to people who can't otherwise access them.

 

Our joint campaigns in Jordan, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen bring eye surgeons and hearing specialists to patients in need, most of them children, refugees, and the elderly. Each treatment restores independence and the ability to learn, work, and care for family.

Hearing Aids and Audiological Support

Hearing loss can profoundly affect a person’s development, education, and social integration—especially for children. UMR’s hearing aid program provides critical support for individuals with hearing loss, particularly children, orphans, refugees, and the elderly.

In partnership with audiologists and ENT specialists, we provide diagnostic services, fittings, and follow-up care to ensure each device is effective and comfortable. We also train family members and caregivers on how to use and maintain the hearing aids. Our goal is not only to provide assistive technology, but to help individuals lead fuller, more connected lives.

Health Education and Community Outreach

UMR recognizes that access to health information is just as important as access to healthcare. Through school-based programs, community trainings, and mass media campaigns, we educate communities on topics like hygiene, maternal nutrition, waterborne disease prevention, and reproductive health.

Our community health workers and volunteers—many of whom are women and youth—play a central role in this effort. We tailor our outreach to ensure it is inclusive of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups, and we work closely with local leaders to ensure that our messaging is relevant and culturally appropriate. In emergencies, we also disseminate public health messaging to reduce the spread of disease and help communities respond safely.

Mobile Health Campaigns

For communities that cannot access fixed health facilities—due to conflict, poverty, or displacement—UMR brings care directly to them. Through mobile health campaigns, we deploy medical professionals and community volunteers to deliver essential services in hard-to-reach areas.

These campaigns include maternal and reproductive health screenings, vaccinations, deworming treatments, non-communicable disease screenings, and referrals for advanced care. We also distribute hygiene and dignity kits and provide basic health education to help prevent the spread of disease. Mobile health services are especially critical for refugee and internally displaced populations who often fall through the cracks of national health systems.

Supporting Children with Autism and Their Families

In low-resource and displaced settings, children with autism and other developmental disabilities often go undiagnosed and unsupported. UMR is working to change that by increasing access to screening, diagnosis, and family-centered care—especially in Jordan and Yemen.

We work with local partners to provide early identification and therapeutic referrals, while also helping parents and caregivers build the skills and confidence to support their children’s development. Through group counseling, parent training sessions, and awareness campaigns, we reduce stigma and create more inclusive communities for children with autism and their families.