A stroke survivor rebuilds his life amid war and poverty

A physical job

Ali Jaber Yateem lives in Abs City with his wife, one son, and five daughters. Like many others in the area, his education ended at the primary level due to financial hardship. Abs district is one the lowest income areas in Yemen.

Ali worked selling ice in the local market, a job that was physically demanding and provided little economic security. Recently, Ali suffered from severe anxiety and sleep problems, brought on by financial stress and the constant struggle to provide for his children. Living in a community with rocky terrain and inadequate infrastructure, daily tasks such as fetching water were a challenge.

Ali suffered a stroke

Last January, Ali suffered a stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed. The incident stripped him of the ability to work and deepened the family’s hardship.

With the support of HI rehabilitation services, Ali began the process of recovery. He attended rehabilitation sessions to improve his functionality and enhance his independence in activities of daily living and mobility. It included balance training, standing and walking exercises, as well as fine motor exercises for his hand. In addition, he participated in psychosocial support (PSS) sessions for his mental health. These services were provided for two weeks at Abs Hospital.