BY ABDUL M. ASSABRI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
A medical delegation from universities in Canada has been on a three-week voluntary mission to Yemen to help local patients.
The delegation's mission ran from Jan. 10 - 30.
A dinner reception was held Jan. 29 at the Taj Sheba Hotel, hosted by Encana, a Canadian company operating in oil exploration.
The group taught and worked surgeries in Taiz, Jibla, Aden, Sayoon, al-Mukalla, and then to Sana'a.
Educational seminars and conferences between the Yemeni and Canadian doctors are also on the team's agenda.
During a final day of conferences, held the Taj Sheba on Jan. 30, participants discussed the theme "Aspiring Women in Medicine."
Minister of Public Health & Population, Dr. Abdunnaser al-Munaibari, was in attendance along with the Yemeni and Canadian doctors.
Dr. Martin Robinson, lead the group of 12 doctors. His first visit to Yemen was in 1988 and this marked his twelfth visit.
Robinson, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, said the team felt it accomplished what it set out to.
The aim of these visits is to offer advanced technological experiences and practically train the Yemeni doctors in the operation theaters and, theoretically in the lecture halls.
"We spent three days in Sana'a, three days in Taiz, three days in Aden, two days in al-Mukalla and two-and-a-half days in Seyaoon," he said.
During the last visit, a great emphasis was placed on teaching and conducting workshops and seminars in addition to seeing patients.
"We also spent three days in Socatra. We have visited a large part of the island together with the Minster of Health, and we were able to look at several health centers," he noted.
A new hospital is to be built in the main city of Socatra along with a large primary health center.
Since 1988, Robinson and his team have initiated several health projects. "We established the first medical library in 1990 at Athowra hospital. We have supported the libraries in both Taiz University and Aden University," he added.
The team is not just focusing its voluntary mission only in Yemen. It has visited several Arab countries including ,the University of Khartoum in Sudan, the American University in Beirut, and also Saudi Arabia.
But Yemen has received the lion's share of the team's visit. "The main focus now is that Yemen is a country with the greatest need, and it has a wonderful desire to improve doctors' capabilities. Yemeni doctors are very stimulating and interested in what we have to say and do," Robinson said.
"We encourage them to continue on their work, and we want to help them in capacity building at the universities and medical schools, and in developing sustainability with some of the programs that have been introduced," he added.
Donna Kennedy Glans, an expert in international business strategies, pointed out that the main aim of the visit has centered around health, education, and capacity building.
"We look at examples of women who have been effective in medicine and tried to make sure that we can encourage other women to do the same which may result in the creation of a society for women in medicine," Kennedy-Glans told the Yemen Times.
"We are looking at women in medicine. A lot of women are graduating in medicine. They sometimes have difficulty in getting jobs," she noted.
Kennedy-Glans is expecting a considerable improvement on the part of Yemeni female doctors.
"(In Canada) more than 50 percent of the medical schools are filled with women," she said. "Women do very well and they are very caring. I think they will offer huge contribution to health care in Yemen."
The Jan. 30 workshop aimed to raise awareness of the woman's role in health education.
Minister of Health al-Munaibari, said he appreciated the role of the Canadian Medical Delegation in supporting health projects, giving lectures, and training the Yemeni medical cadres.
Dr. al-Munaibari placed stress on encouraging women in medicine and continued health education.
During their visit to Taiz, the Canadian delegation met Ahmed Hayel Saeed, Head of the Yemeni-Canadian Society for Medicine Education & Arts.
He supported the delegation's strategy to establish a national cancer for Yemen's population.
Based on their experience and recommendations of the World Health Organization, the first cancer center would be built in Sana'a, with regional centers in Taiz, Aden and al-Mukalla.
During their visit, the Canadian Medical Delegation focus on giving lectures about hospitals management, helping cardiac patients, dealing with neurotic diseases and mother and child care.
One key aim of the Canadian doctors' visit was to address the issue of the high infant and maternal mortality, one of the highest rates in the world.
They look at facilities and infrastructure in which they can develop a program to monitor the welfare of mothers and babies.
They are particularly interested in establishing relations with Yemeni positions and universities which will help Yemenis to improve health education, training, and the health of mothers and babies.
The Canadian Medical delegation expressed their deep appreciation for visiting and enjoying Yemen.

Professor Dr. Amer Salemeen Balafeer, among Yemen's distinguished Yemeni doctors, works as an assistant professor at the medicine college in Hadhramout University in the field of obstetrics and sterility diseases.
He has been appointed as a general manager for al-Mukallah Motherhood & Childhood Hospital since 1998 and is regarded as one of the best Arab and Yemeni doctors who treats sterility.
He was born in 1959 in al-Hagarain in Dowan valley and received his primary , preparatory and secondary education from al-Mukalla secondary school. He studied medicine in Aden University and graduated in 1985 with an excellent grade.
He received a scientific distinction medal from the Education Ministry in 1985.
He has a diploma in obstetrics from Baghdad University. He is also a holder of doctorate in reproductive physiology and fetus implantation, (test-tube babies) and has proved to be among the best in this field in Yemen.
He has also received certificates of appreciation Saddam High Institute for his researches in fetus and sterility treatment at Baghdad University.
The Yemen Times met him recently. Following is an edited version of the interview.

Q: Could you give us an account of your new invention in fetus implantation and test-tube baby?
A: The thesis that has been presented was about using reproductive hormones in the process of external fertility and fetus implantation. A special implanted embryo was used in the process of the external fertility and then the embryo was put back into the women's uterus. In the Middle East this has been applied for the first time in Iraq.
The study that has been conducted on such operation has lasted three years and the ultimate goal of this implanted embryo has been successfully achieved.
Scientific research has proved that the implanted fetus rivals successfully those conceived naturally
In the traditional test-tube baby experiment, there were 102 husbands used in experiments. Another experiment was carried out on 131 husbands.
The medical substance that has been used in that implanted fetus contain hormones taken from women in any given day during her fertility period. Blood samples then taken from the woman and the liquid substances are separated from the blood hymatocyte and then put in sterilization machines.
The blood in this case contains a very high level of certain hormones which in turn helps the baby to grow outside the women's uterus or inside the test-tube.
On this basis, I was honored from the Saddam High Institute and got the institute's coat of arms for this tremendous accomplishment. That is because, I am the first Arab doctor to touch on this sensitive matter.
I also got the coat of arms from the college of medicine in Baghdad for this distinction.

Q: How do we make use of such medical experiment locally in order to be applied in the governorate to lessen sufferings of people whether in receiving treatment or going abroad?
A: The practical use of this project in the governorate in particular and in Yemen in general in need of huge potentialities and extraneous efforts. Firstly, what is needed is to inaugurate a test-tube babies center where medical apparatus and implantation devices are indispensable. We at the al-Mukallah Motherhood & Childhood Hospital are doing our best to implement the new hospital where its foundation has been laid by Dr. Abdulkder Bajammal after making efforts by the governor of Hadhramout, Dr. Salem Abdullah Qunaid al-Owbathani, the General Manager of the Public Health and Population in the governorate in order to include the new hospital within the state's budget.
We pin our hopes on that the new hospital will include a special fertility and test-tube baby unit. We are trying also to open a new center in the Hadhramout University where a large number of people have fallen prey to incurable sterility diseases.

Q: A foundation stone has been laid for a college of medicine in Hadhramout. Do you intend to establish a center for scientific and medical research and studies?
A: Establishing the college of medicine in the governorate is necessary. Besides, establishing a medical center for studies and research is the basis of establishing the college of medicine. The al-Mukallah Motherhood & Childhood Hospital and Ibn Seena Hospital work side-by-side as educational medical centers.
The new al-Mukalla Hospital and other medical units in Ibn Seena Hospital are to be completed. What is needed is to establish a highly developed scientific center for the higher and scientific academic studies in the governorate.
This cannot be achieved unless there is no collaborative efforts exerted in order to make a success for such projects.
There will an easy access for medical service and research for people in the governorate, doctors, and students. This will constitute a mainstay to promote and improve the medical health services in the governorate.
In addition to this, Dr. Ali Hood Babbad, the Reactor of the Hadhramout University is fully conversant with the process of research and looks forward to promote the scientific research in the governorate.

Q: It has been recently observed that a number of cancer operations have been conducted in the al-Mukallah Motherhood & Childhood Hospital. Have made diagnosis for such cases?
A: It is difficult to diagnose several simple cases. Research has to include a large number of cases. A clinical comprehensive study is to be conducted to know all there is to know about the reasons behind the spread of such cases.

Q: The al-Mukallah Motherhood & Childhood Hospital rivals hospitals of the private sector. What are the criterion that have been taken to reach such a high level?
A: You know very well that the hospital was in a very deplorable conditions particularly in the 1970s. After the hospital got its independence, parts of the hospital units were renewed and it has been fully equipped with sophisticated medical apparatus whether from the state or philanthropists such as Omar and Abdulkader al-Amodi.
The hospital's renewal and updating has lead to dramatic improvements in all its health units, such as,renewing the general and family wards and providing medical apparatus which couldn't not be detected in some of the private hospitals.
Preparations are underway to establish a ward for the premature babies financed by Shiekh Abdullah Baqshan. This includes supplying the hospital with the surgical anesthetics and other units in the hospital.
Several wards have been renewed.
Medical supplies have become accessible for the nurse, doctor, and the midwives.

Q: Can you give us a brief account of the new hospital?
A: The al-Mukalla Hospital is one of the typical specialized hospitals in the field ofobstetrics and childhood. The hospital contains six floors and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical apparatus along with fire alarms and the latest technologies in telecommunications and telephone exchanges for doctors in the state of emergency.
The hospital offers distinguished services in emergency rooms, children clinics, and inpatient wards.
The capacity has reached more than 150 beds. For the first time in the governorate, the hospital will include children's surgery along with performing operations simultaneously where patients are given the full treatment.
The hospital comprises excellent multi-labs services fully equipped with medical technicalities and external clinics together with offering TV rays services. Besides, a scientific library has been established comprising valuable resources in medicine and large halls for holding meetings and delivering scientific lectures.
The hospital has been featured by the availability of special units for separation, sterilization, maintenance, and washing. Its entrances and exists have been uniquely designed in order to facilitate offering services for the patients. It also comprise a garden, car park, and has three large entrances, areception hall, and dining room for health workers. A modern kitchen has been established fully equipped with the kitchen utensils and modern stoves.
The hospital alsohas a round-the-clock central pharmacy.
The hospital's overall costs have reached YR 430 million.
Promoting the hospital has been given priority and we as doctors have to improve it for the better along with pursuing the rights of the health workers as that of their workmates in other hospitals.