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By: Robert Franklin Drapper For the Yemen Times

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is making its début in Yemen through the skilled hand of Captain BIlaal Broadway. BJJ is a style of martial arts that focuses on ground fighting, known as grappling, with the goal of gaining a dominating position through using chokeholds, joint -locks, and eventually forcing the opponent to submit, which basically means to admit defeat. Captain Broadwat, a Muslim American practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is bringing BJJ to Yemen as a "means to raise morale in people and promote real life self defense". Broadway has a martial arts history that started with him studying Sanucus Ryu ui-Jitsu, which has enabled him to further comprehend and implement different styles of Jiu-Jitsu, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. a He has lived off and on in Yemen since 2004, I started BJJ in the summer of 2006. Yemenis seem to like it and the price is affordable, he said. Mohammad Al-Godamy, 16, a university student and a convert to BJJ says :" I like it because anyone can do it regardless of size and strength and I feel I can protect myself from any threats on the street." There are other types of martial arts such as Karate, Teakwood Do, Kick Boxing, and even Judo, but they lack the holistic approach to real life self defense. These types of fighting only work if you are standing up, and they wont guarantee the defeat of the opponent. Additionally, BJJ is geared toward ending the fight quickly. Even Khalid Al-Anesi, 25, a university student, and novice martial artist who has studied some of these above limited styles believes BJJ is superior. BJJ is more affective because you use more leverage to submit your opponent, rather than using a lot of hits and physical strength. Captain Broadway has studied and trained in many of the above styles of martial arts, and he earnestly believes that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the best, and he is here to tell us why. BJJ gives its practitioner "self respect, self awareness of ones physical abilities, and self confidence," Captain Broadway proudly explains. In fact, Al-Godamy is proof of the above statement. His self confidence has improved and he is a better person than what he was before. BJJ is used for close combat that is geared towards taking a person to the ground, thereby reducing their threat to you. As shown throughout the world, most martial arts is focused on punches, blocks, kicks, and chops from a standing position, but none of these are effective from the ground, and if you take away a man's affective ness, you take away his ability to hurt you. Once the person is on the ground the BJJ practitioner uses "joint manipulation (locks) chokes, submission, and overall totally dominants the opponent," says Captain Broadway. As one can tell, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a real street fighting art, which requires a partner to learn it. "A person who studies BJJ is more likely to know how to deal with a real life street attack from an attacker because in training you are constantly training with a partner using those same self defense techniques," says Captain Broadway. BJJ teaches people through real combat experience in a practice situation to defeat an opponent compared to someone who is just doing shadow boxing, or practicing techniques wit hout a partner. "Yes, practicing techniques alone is good," says Captain Broadway, "and you will develop a certain level of fighting proficiency, but that person wont know how to control his adrenalin and channel his adrenalin" in a real fighting situation, and as expected he may seriously injure his opponent" or he may not fight hard enough, and then "he will be overcome by the assailant," says Broadway. Captain Broadway further explains, "With BJJ we answer the call of threat with the appropriate amount of force," and this enables the fight to be controlled and ended quickly without killing the opponent. Captain Broadway is the only known trained practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu living in Yemen. He was trained by Clint Leon, a 5th degree black belt in BJJ from Holland, for 6 months, 3 times per week. Under the watchful eyes of Clint Leon, "I learned close to 100 BJJ submission techniques," says Mr. Broadway. If that is not enough for the novice martial artist to want to learn from Mr. Broadway, than listen to this. The Emirates Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brought Mr. Broadway on as a training partner. Carlos Santos, head coach of the Emirates Braziliam Jiu-jitsu team monitored Mr. Broadway, and yes Mr. Santos even asked Mr. Broadway to join the team. What an honor, only the skilled are even permitted to practice with the elite team of the Emirates. But here's the big question. Did Mr. Broadway accept the offer? "I postponed the offer until later when I will return to the Emirates in May 2008 to join the team and compete in the Abu Dhabi International Cup, " he says. Mr. Broadway is not a black belt, he is only between a white belt and blue belt, but that doesn't hinder him from being able to defeat an opponent. Mr. Broadway jokingly says," belts are awarded to many students learning karate, Teakwood Do, or Kung-Fu to further encourage their progress in that art, even if they are not proficient in that level. On the other hand, "BJJ focuses on a student having the ability to execute a technique with proficiency while he is under duress. Gaining a belt is the second objective because in a real fight," Mr. Broadway laughingly says, "a belt won't save your life." Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is fun, energetic, and yes, everyone can learn it. "Anyone can learn BJJ if they are willing to come to the class," Mr. Broadway says. BJJ is for anybody of "average health," says Mr. Broadway. Mr. Broadway, a certified fitness trainer,and former body builder is obviously without a doubt, a well learned martial artist who can improve the fight game for any person willing to learn the combat sport of BJJ. "My desire is to start an official BJJ team in Yemen," says Captain Broadway.

School sports improve student performance

Yemen Times Staff

School sports and activities make students more energized, self-confident, more attentive in class and even increase their desire to go to school, according to students and teachers at Yemeni schools. Robert Draper reports. Yemeni students often face crowded classrooms and lack of educational resources, on top of which many are malnourished and tired, but school sports and activities have helped change the learning environment for many. Sports are good for girls At Kawkaban School for girls , in Sana’a city, whose students play basketball, soccer, tennis and badminton, athletes are the best learners. “Athletes participate more in classroom activities because sports activate the mind,” observes guidance counselor Nawal Al-Masili, a 12-year education veteran. Such students also are more sociable and outgoing when working with other students. As Kawkaban School supervisor Jamila Ali says, “Athletes work better in group activities; all of the other students follow them.” She continues, “Athletes are more self-confident than non-athletes. They’re not shy about giving their opinion!” Additionally, it is a team mentality, which is that everyone can achieve together, that athletes bring to public school classrooms in Yemen. Because they are used to competition, they go after the goal, not just on the soccer field or the tennis court, but also in the classroom. Such team mentality “helps [the girl athletes] to study and get high marks in school,” as well as participate more in class, according to Kawkaban Principal Lutfiya Hamza. Sports and learning have merged to form a mutually supportive relationship for both boys and girls. “Sports are very good for girls because those who play sports like to learn,” says Ali Ahmed Rajeh, manager of general relations at the Education Office in Sana’a. “An athletic person is better than a non-athletic person because they are more active and energetic in class,” says 15-year-old Khulood Al-Hamdani, an 11th-grade science student at Kawkaban School. A basketball player herself, she remarks, “It’s an interesting sport. I like working together as a group.” Fellow Kawkaban 11th-grader Sara Al-Thamari, 16, believes sports gives her more energy to answer questions in class, while at the same time enabling her to maintain a healthy body and mind. She particularly likes swimming and billiards because, as she says, “it’s better than sitting at home.” In addition to physical sports, some enjoy activities of the mind. Another 11th-grader, 15-year-old Rodaina Al-Sanawi, has been playing chess for five years. When asked if chess makes her smarter, she simply replies, “Yes, of course.” She also believes it improves her mind. “I can concentrate more and my mind expands.” Not just for girls However, girls aren’t the only ones doing school sports. Leadership, self-confidence and assertiveness are traits respected worldwide. Al-Kuwait County School coach Abdullah Mohammed Saleh notes that martial arts such as Judo and karate “improve self-confidence and get students to come to school,” so the boys can learn to read and write. Hoping to begin martial arts within six months, Saleh already has recruited students from various Sana’a schools. When boys play sports, he says, “They are very happy and they imagine themselves as heroes.” Feeling like a hero emboldens anyone and gives them confidence in their own abilities. Sports like Judo, karate, tennis, basketball, soccer, etc., also “encourage students to come to school,” he adds. Al-Kuwait soccer player Hamza Omar Yoursi, 18, affirms this, saying, “I come to school for the sports.” His friend, 11th-grader Husam Jamil, enjoys playing basketball and chess because such activities “give me more energy and the desire to study more in subjects like geography and biology.” Because he says sports encourage him to attend school, he wants to go on to university, taking his desire for sports to that level. However, in order to do this, he knows he must study his daily lessons and sports encourages him to do that. Types of school sports played Sports differ among schools in Sana’a, with some playing basketball while others play soccer. Because most girls’ schools don’t have inter-school sports teams, they only compete against other students within their own school. Also, because it isn’t mandatory and not all students want to do sports, only a handful of students participate in a particular sport, notes Ahmed Hamoud Al-Haj, general director of school activities at the ministry of education Not surprisingly, school sports in Yemen are similar to those in the United States, with most offering soccer, basketball and tennis; however, baseball and American football are absent in Yemen. Soccer matches are scheduled between different public school districts, with each school putting their best players on their team. At the end of the school year, the districts then compete for the soccer championship. Al-Haj noted that the soccer team in Sana’a governorate won the championship in both 2006 and 2007. Public schools aren’t the only ones offering sports, as Sam Yemen International School, the American School and many other private schools also offer such activities. However, teams mostly are confined to the individual schools, with players comprised of those from different grades and different rankings within the school. Currently, there are no records indicating whether students in the top percentile are avid athletes or not. Cultural views and restraints As much as school sports and activities have helped improve the lives and grades of many Yemeni students, negative cultural attitudes and problems remain regarding both boys and girls playing sports. Yemen still suffers from long-held opinions about females playing sports. It’s viewed as a negative thing for a girl or a teenager to jump up and down, run around and be aggressive on a field or a court because in Yemen, women are expected to be shy and not show their bodies in ways that display the female form. According to Coach Saleh, another issue is that some parents believe school studies are more important than sports. Additionally, athletes sometimes receive injuries and there’s no one to care for them. Injuries cost money, and with the average Yemeni working man making only $100 a month, such sports injuries only compound the problems of poverty. Some athletes also lag behind in their studies. Hussein Abdullah Al-Bashani, a Qur’anic teacher at Al-Kuwait County School, believes that students only care about sports and they dismiss their studies. “Students have a desire for sports, but no desire to study,” he asserts. Currently, there are no rules punishing athletes making poor school grades. Al-Bashani believes that those students who don’t pass their classes should not be permitted to play sports.

 

Smoking sheesha, genetic abnormalities, and menstruation are all factors that contribute to breast cancer in Yemeni women, say doctors.

“Breast cancer is on the rise and it is the leading cancer among women in Yemen today,” said Dr. Nadeem Nagi, general director of the National Oncology Center in Yemen. The increasing tendency for women to smoke sheesha accounts for some of this increase in cancer statistics, he explained. 

Sheesha is highly dangerous because it mixes tobacco with fermented fruits, according to a document from Tobacco News and Information. The smoke contains carbon monoxide, tar, and heavy metals, which are known carcinogens, just like any other tobacco product. 

There are mixed views about the link between breast cancer and tobacco, but according to a study published by the Tobacco Free Initiative at the World Health Organization, Danish women interviewed at the time of mammography, who had smoked for more than 30 years had a 60 percent higher risk of breast cancer. 

Sheesha is not the only factor causing breast cancer in Yemen. A link has also been found between genetic abnormalities and this disease. These abnormalities are more prevalent due to the practice of first-cousin marriages in Yemeni society said Dr. Nagi. 

One third of all marriages among Yemenis are between first cousins. According to a document published by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, two specific genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are key elements in the development of breast cancer. Every woman has these genes, but some women inherit a mutated form of one or both genes, leading to an increased risk of breast andovarian cancer. 

This mutated form of BRCA1 or BRCA2 normally accounts for only about 5 to 10 percent of all cases of breast cancer, but because these genes are inherited, a long history of inbreeding within a family may cause them to predominate within a family’s gene pool. 

Additionally, both early and late menstruation can be a catalyst for breast cancer. When a woman is menstruating, she is hormonally active, said Dr. Nagi.  These hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, have been found to contribute to breast cancer.  Women who begin menstruating early, at 9 or 10 years of age, or those who continue menstruation later than average—past 50 years of age—are exposed to these hormones and their effects for a longer period of time than the average woman.

“If we detect breast cancer early, we use surgery known as a lumpectomy. We surgically remove the cancerous area and some of the surrounding tissue,” said Dr. Nagi. Also, depending on the stage, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is used. If the hormone receptors are active in the body, the patient will receive hormonal treatment in the form of tablets. These tablets depress the hormones estrogen and progesterone, decreasing their catalytic effect on the cancer, according to Dr. Nagi. Due to the high cost of these procedures, all of the treatments are free of charge. 

Many women suffering from breast cancer are seen by Dr. Nagi and his staff at the National Oncology Center. 

Alema Mamood, 45, from Taiz, is currently living with breast cancer. Her situation is much more advanced than most because the cancer has spread to her liver, said Dr. Masood al-Joriki. Mamood was one of the few breast cancer patients willing to receive treatment during the holy month of Ramadan. 

According to the doctors, she doesn’t even know that she has cancer, only that she is sick. “With some patients we don’t tell them they have cancer, because they will refuse treatment,” said Dr. al-Joriki. “They think cancer means death. We tell their family, and we give them treatment,” he said. 

When Ms. Mamood is asked about her health condition, she describes pain in her ribs and underarm. Dr. al-Joriki said that she has had breast cancer for around 5 months, and that her condition started two years ago with a small painless lump in the left breast. It gradually increased in size, and six months later another lump formed. She is one of many patients that undergo chemotherapy and is on her fifth cycle of treatment. 

Mamood is one of the many breast cancer patients who sought treatment during the late stages of the disease and as a result, she had her entire left breast had to be removed.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer begins as a tumor in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but can also be found in men. 

The female breast is made up mainly of milk-producing glands, tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple, fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, and blood vessels. Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts, some begin in the cells that line the lobules, and the rest occur in other tissues.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million—13 percent—of all deaths and breast cancer is one of the most common contributors to overall cancer mortality, accounting for 502,000 deaths in 2005. 

Countries such as Yemen, which suffer from poverty, suffer greatly from breast cancer as more than 70 percent of all cancer deaths in 2005 occurred in low and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer in the world are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 9 million people succumbing to cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million in the year 2030.

"Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. The female breast is made up mainly of lobules (milk-producing glands), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts ( ductal cancers); some begin in the cells that line the lobules ( lobular cancers), and the rest in other tissues," according to a breast cancer health document published by the American Cancer Society.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million (or 13%) of all deaths." Breast Cancer is one of the main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality rate. "Breast Cancer cause 502,000 deaths in year 2005, according to the WHO. Furthermore, countries like Yemeni, which suffer from poverty is at high risk for an increase in breast cancer because "more than 70% of all cancer deaths in 2005 occurred in low and middle income countries," according to WHO. "Deaths from cancer in the world are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million dying in 2030," according to WHO 

Click here for Yemen Observer's copy of this article: http://www.yobserver.com/sports-health-and-lifestyle/10013157.html
Qat chewers who are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus are flocking to hospitals in large numbers complaining of symptoms including difficulty swallowing, tumor like lumps growing on their bodies, and neck pain.

Farming chemicals used to grow Qat and fruit have been found to be catalysts for nasopharyngeal cancer in people who have previously been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, according to new medical findings. 

The National Cancer Center of Yemen is confronting this epidemic with medical treatment in clinics and educational seminars in the public school system. 

“Nasopharyngeal cancer is on the rise in Yemen,” says Dr. Faisal Abdullah Khurasani, a general physician at al-Jumhori Teaching Hospital. “I have seen approximately 120 patients per year with nasopharyngeal cancer. Qat farmers use chemicals to grow plants more rapidly, and it is these chemicals that cause the cancer,” says Dr. Khurasani. 

“[Nasopharyngeal] cancer is increasing in Yemen because a lot of carcinogenic chemical substances are sprayed on vegetables and fruits,” says Dr. Yahi Mogally, a cancer specialist. Dr. Mogally has seen about 100 cancer patients in the outpatient department. Those chemicals have been found to catalyze the development of cancer cells already encouraged by the Epstein-Barr virus. 

The Epstein-Barr virus, also known as EBV, is a herpes simplex that is widespread in all human populations. Many cases of nasopharyngeal cancer worldwide are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus, according to a document entitled ‘Infectious Agents & Cancer’ published by Cancer Research UK. 

EBV-induced nasopharyngeal cancer affects many Yemenis, and Farris Mohammed, 21, is one of its victims. 

“Mohammed lost weight and he was drenched in sweat when he came to us,” says Dr. Khurasani. Mohammed has been a patient for the past months. When Mohammed is asked how he is feeling, he simply says, “there is some improvement.” Mohammed has had EBV-induced nasopharyngeal cancer for six months, but Dr. Khurasani says that he was wrongly diagnosed as having tuberculosis, and took TB medicine for two months. That is why he came to Al-Jumhori Teaching Hospital five months ago. 

He was referred to have a biopsy of his lymph nodes and that is when the doctors realized he had cancer. Mohammed is one of the few patients expected to have a full recovery because his cancer was caught in the early stages, says Dr. Khurasani. 

Other Yemenis with nasopharyngeal cancer will not be so lucky. “I have been chewing Qat for 20 years,” says Saleh Ali Abdulrahman, 45, a farmer from a village on the outskirts of Sana’a. Eight months ago he knew he was sick when a mass grew on his neck and he had difficulty swallowing. “The mass was 80 centimeters wide, now it is 2 centimeters,” says Dr. Khurasani. Abdulrahman has been a patient for three months and is on his second cycle of Cisplatin, a medicine used to treat cancer patients, explains Dr. Khurasani. In addition, he will be treated with radiotherapy in the future.

Forty percent of cancers can be prevented by a healthy diet and physical activity, according to a document about cancer published by the World Health Organization. “Since I started treatment, I stopped chewing Qat, and I decided to stop chewing Qat all together,” Abdulrahman said. It is this new healthy path in life that will ensure that he remains cancer-free. 

Cancer-free is a goal that Yemen is striving for, and, like other countries, it is a goal that Yemen will probably never achieve. Because the chemicals used to grow Qat are linked to cancer, brochures about the dangers of chewing are handed out to patients at the NCCY. Also, those dangers are taught in the public school health curricula three or four times per year, according to Dr. Khurasani. 

Doctors from the medical clinic go to boys’ and girls’ schools in Sana’a, but because the National Cancer Center of Yemen “is suffering from a massive influx of patients, we don’t have time to do the full educational program,” says Dr. Khuransani. 

According to an American Cancer Society brochure called, General Information About Nasopharyngeal Cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer is relatively rare in most parts of the world. In the United States it occurs in seven out of every one million persons. This may add up to about 2,000 cases a year there. However, this cancer is much more common in areas of Asia and North Africa. Nasopharyngeal cancer most often affects people beginning at age 30 and older, but can be seen in children. About half of the world’s patients are less than 55 years old.  

 

Antiretroviral drugs help HIV patients, specialists say
Antiretroviral drugs and counselling are being used to heal both the bodies and minds of HIV infected people in Yemen, specialists have said.

The National Aids & Sexually Transmitted Disease Program (NAP), which is headed by Dr. Fouzia Abdullah Saeed Ghramah, who is a community medicine specialist, is confronting the HIV epidemic in Yemen by providing free medicine, HIV/AIDS education, and group counselling, but the stigma of HIV prevents people from seeking the free help.

As of right now, "$191,000.00 for 200 patients has been spent on antiretroviral drugs, which comes from UNICEF," says Ms.Ghramah. It is the antiretroviral drugs “that stops the reproduction of the HIV virus," according to Dr. Achmed Yahya Al-Nehmi, a lab technician at Al-Gumhouri Teaching Hospital.

As of present day, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS but there are antiretroviral drugs to stop the spread of the infection at different stages. "We get combinations of antiretroviral drugs from the World Health Organization, and the dates are on the packet, and so it is not expired," says Dr. AL-Nehmi.

After testing the Cd-4 count of the patient, the doctor gives drugs to patients who have a CD4 of less than 200. Dr. AL-Nehmi explains to the patients that the "antiretroviral stops the reproduction of the HIV virus “We slowly decrease their (HIV infected people) fear about this problem (HIV)," says Mr. AL-Zomor.

Antiretroviral drugs are available in all western countries, and "antiretroviral treatment for HIV infected patients was first introduced in 1986.

Zidovudine (ZDV), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NsRTI), was the first drug that was used and was shown to reduce deaths," of HIV infected people, according to the World Health Organization.

The organization added that "in Europe and North America, AIDS mortality has dropped significantly in large part due to access to regimens of 3 or more antiretroviral drugs."

It is this decrease in mortality rates that NAP is looking to manifest in Yemen. The Ministry of Public Health and Population has a list of 2,075 cases of people living with HIV/AIDS," says, Dr. Areej M Taher, a NAP technical officer. Many Yemeni people can be helped by the antiretroviral medication, but "because of the stigma they (HIV infected people), are afraid to come, they refuse to come here," says Dr. Taher.



HIV stigma

Stigma of HIV & Aids has been thwarted drastically in most western and modernized nations because of the numerous HIV/AIDS awareness programs in grade schools, middle schools, and even high schools. These programs have been able to educate the youth, and in many other third world countries.

Also, HIV/AIDS is associated with non-Islamic practices such as homosexuality, fornication, and drug addiction,

"Most people feel ashamed, and they don't want anyone to know about them," explains, Dr. Nehmi. "There was one man who had sex with a women, who was a servant in the house. By chance he found out he had HIV when he went for a routine medial check up,” explains Dr. Nehmi.

As a result of cases like these, the person fears social stigma from family members, and fellow employees, which causes them to "escape from others and they don't do social activities," the specialist added.

It is because of this stigma of HIV that "only a little bit of medicine is needed," officials say. Dr. Mayada Faisal Nabih Mohammed, a medical specialist at NAP, says : “Since February 2007, we have just reached 82 cases that receive treatment with Aids medicine.”

Also, there are 240 people from different governorates that are receiving test, and other medication for infections, she adds.

According to her, NAP is expecting to reach 250 patients that need the AIDS medications by the end of 2008. The medicine for these people is far from the registered 2,075 cases at the Ministry of Health, but it is start.

Akbar, 27, is infected with HIV and his case is registered with NAP. He says :"I already wanted to kill myself, but then the hospital sent me to the NAP counsellors’ office. He says to his counsellor, "I wanted to chew Qat, drink alcohol, and shoot myself.”

However, Mr. Abdul Basset Al-Zomor, who is a nurse and counsellor for patients with HIV/AIDS, convinced him that life was better than death. Akbar says: "I had sex with a female friend from the Philippians. I had sex with her once, and that's all. She doesn't know I have AIDS."

Four months ago he went to the hospital for a routine investigation about his health for a VISA to Saudi Arabia, and the administration of the hospital told him that he had HIV.

Akbar says, "If I kill myself, my family and village will look down on me, and because of that my family doesn't know."

According to Mr. Zomor, "No one understands this problem in Yemen," and that's why families are not told unless the patient gives his permission. When Akbar's mother asked why he didn't travel to Saudi Arabia to work and bring in money for the family, fear of social stigma compelled him to lie.

Akbar justified his not going to Saudi Arabia by saying that he had hepatitis B, and he can't travel. "I want to marry a woman from the NAP program who has HIV but is healthy," he says.

Akbar looks like a healthy trim Yemeni man. No weight loss is apparent, and no sicknesses are plaguing his disabled immune system because he has been taking a combination of antiretroviral drugs since he became aware of his HIV status 4 months ago.



Unaware patients

"I don't know how I got HIV," says Muhammad, 31,a truck driver. Muhammad, like many people in Yemen found out he had HIV when he got a 2 year medical check-up.

"At that time I tested positive for HIV, and yeah I cried." During this time, "I felt sick in my body, and my weight came down." As Muhammad waits for his CD4 results at Al-Gumhouri, he says, "my CD4 count was 107, but after 3 months of (antiretroviral) medicine it went to 216."

Dr. Al-Nehmi says, "No need for drugs. His CD4 count is still above 200."

According to Mark Cichocki, a HIV/AIDS nurse specialist at the University of Michigan's HIV/AIDS Treatment Program,

"CD4 Cells are cells that have molecules called CD4 on its surface. These 'helper' cells initiate the body's response to invading micro-organisms such as viruses. HIV is a retrovirus, meaning it needs cells from a 'host' in order to make more copies of itself (replication). In the case of HIV, CD4 cells are the host cells that aid HIV in replication.

HIV attaches to the CD4 cells, allowing the virus to enter and infect the CD4 cells, damaging them in the process. The fewer functioning CD4 cells, the weaker the immune system and therefore the more vulnerable a person is to infections and illnesses. It is the antiretroviral drugs provided by organizations like NAP that prevents the CD4 level in a patient from decreasing

Another Yemeni man, 60 year old, who voluntarily brings HIV patients to the clinic at Al-Gumhouri Teaching Hospital, takes both antiretroviral drugs and Zindani' herbal medication. He is also health-looking, maintains a good CD4 count, and looks forward to the future. "I have no complaints," he says about the antiretroviral medication and Zindani herbal drink for HIV, which he takes daily. "I convince people to come here (Al-Gumhouri) to get treatment with HIV," he says.

"I am a new patient," says Fatima, 47, "I got it (HIV) from my husband. Maybe he committed adultery."

"I was very angry at my husband, and I felt very bad. He said that he was sorry and he didn't know how he got the disease. He was having kidney problem, before loosing his weight, which is common amongst AIDS patients who don't receive treatment.

"He was shouting at me before he died. When he died my brother took me to the hospital, and made the test. Health workers told me I had AIDS."

Fatima is one of the many women from the Mediterranean region that has contracted HIV from her husband. "In general about 80% of women in the Mediterranean region get HIV infection from their husbands," says Dr. Ghramah, but men get infected, too. Presently, Fatima is taking antiretroviral drugs, and she expects her CD4 count to rise above 200.

Also, to curb the patients fear of members of the public knowing that they are HIV infected or if they have full blown AIDS, "We receive patients here (Al-Gumhouri), give them a code number for personal security, and we give them info about AIDS," says Mr. Al-Zomor.

Because of the sensitivity and the shame associated with HIV & AIDS, to identify patients, "we have a number system, so the patient is confident of his security," explains Dr. Al-Nehmi.

Only the age, nationality, and sometimes the city of the patient is written down in the record. No pictures or any other identification is documented. Because of the documenting system no statistic can be gathered about where the majority of HIV infections occur in Yemen, or the average age, or occupation of HIV patients, but according to Dr. Al-Nehmi, "most cases are aged between 20 to 40 years old."



Free medications

The quality of medication is a major issue in Yemen. Yemen is knowon for selling medicine that is expired or lack effectiveness in its ability to cure or decrease the problematic health issue that plagues the patient, but this is not a problem with the HIV medication according to Dr. Taher. "All drugs are approved by the World Health Organization, and by companies known and registered with the Ministry of Public Health and Population," she adds.

How long will free medication be provided to Yemeni people is another question that resonates in the minds of Yemeni & refugees alike. Since Yemen is a third world developing country, most of the people live in poverty, and they depend on the government to help provide the antiretroviral drugs needed to help HIV infected people.

Funds are coming, but there is no long term project to take care of the HIV infected people. "We have money from the Global Fund to support us for 5 years, and if God wills the Ministry of Health and Population will take care of the procurement of the drugs for AIDS patients for the future,” says Dr. Taher.

Click here for original article: http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1100&p=health&a=1

In the past, blood transfusions in Yemen were plagued by poor screening, and as a result, patients were infected with HIV. However, a new three-tier screening process comprised of the ELISA test, the Western blot and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test has changed the way blood transfusions are handled in Yemen.

ELISA machines test blood samples for HIV, Habituates B, C and other infectious diseases. “It’s very sensitive to infectious disease,” says Dr. Arwa Ahmed Awn, a Ph.D. in hematology, and blood transfusion and general director of Yemen’s National Blood Transfusion and Research Center. Hematology is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the blood and bone marrow as well as blood clotting and vascular systems. “Because of the nature of blood, the science of hematology profoundly affects the understanding of many diseases,” like HIV according to Webster’s New World Medical Dictionary.

“Now every unit of blood is screened,” says Dr. Sa’eed Al-Sheibani, assistant professor at Sana’a University and general manager of Yemen’s National Center of Public Health Laboratories. “If blood tests HIV-positive with the ELISA test, next is the Western blot and then the PCR,” Al-Sheibani explains.

The Western blot is the second step in confirming a positive HIV test confirmed by ELISA. According to registered nurse and HIV/AIDS specialist Mark Cichocki, “Western blot is a test for specific antibodies to confirm repeatedly reactive results of the HIV ELISA or EIA test.”

Once a blood sample has been subjected to the Western blot test, the sample will be either positive or negative. “A positive Western blot confirms HIV infection,” Cichocki explains. Next, is the PCR test, which tests for the (RNA) Ribonucleic Acid, of the HIV virus. RNA is a nucleic acid molecule similar to

DNA but containing ribose rather than deoxyribose. RNA is formed upon a DNA template.

According to Medicine.net, “The PCR test is 100 percent effective. There’s no way you can get a negative result,” because the actual building blocks of the HIV virus are searched and confirmed in the blood sample provided. “PCR is a key technique in molecular genetics permitting analysis of any short sequence of DNA (or RNA) without having to clone it.”

Yemeni truck driver Mohammed Akhmed, 26, is one of many who donate blood “because I want to give to patients,” he says, believing that God will bless him for it. His friend, 29-year-old soldier Khalid Saad Al-Jaef, shares his sentiments in receiving blessing from God. “The person who receives my blood is my friend,” Al-Jaef says.

It’s loving, caring blood donors like these who “give only for the blessing. They don’t give for money,” says Dr. Ismail Akhmed Al-Radamy, “They think that if they give blood to patients, Allah will bless them.” It’s this blessing and others like it that will be subjected to the ELISA test, which is mandatory.

Not all blood donations are subjected to the three-tier screening process. If a blood sample tests negative for HIV in the ELISA test, then no other test is needed. Only those ELISA tests that are HIV-positive are subjected to the Western blot and PCR test. Most blood that’s HIV-positive is contaminated with the “SEARO HIV strand, which comes from different parts of Africa,” Dr. Sa’eed Al-Sheibani explains.

“It’s very rare that we get positive results,” from donor cases, Al-Sheibani explains, “approximately 10 cases annually,” he says, noting that the public health lab receives approximately 60 donors each day.

All blood confirmed to be HIV-positive is associated with identification information specific to that donor. In the rare case that a donor at the public health lab tests positive for HIV, his or her information packet is sent directly to Al-Sheibani. “We then take them (the HIV-positive individual) to a committee, which educates them (him/her) about HIV,” Al-Sheibani explains.

HIV positive blood that’s screened via the three-step process either is thrown away or used for scientific purposes.

“We deep-freeze the HIV-positive sample, storing it with the serial number, examination date and type of test. We keep the sample for research purposes or to test new procedures or diseases,” explains Dr. Abdullah Al-Hababi, who holds a master’s in virology.

Finally, when it’s time to dispose completely of HIV-infected blood, such biological waste and medical laboratory products are placed into an autoclave machine to sterilize them before incineration.

According to Dr. Al-Aiman Adel , it’s this rigorous screening process that confirms HIV-infected blood and prevents some 20 cases of patients receiving blood transfusions monthly from becoming infected with HIV.

HIV Infected Refugees Protected by a
Memorandum of Understanding
between
UNHCR & The Ministry of Public Health

A memorandum of understand for HIV infected Refugees between the Ministry of Public Health & Population and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), is improving the lives of countless refugees who live with the deadly disease of HIV/AIDS. Without this memorandum of understanding many refugees who suffer from HIV/AIDS, most likely would not receive the access to medical care, HIV preventive education, and the emotional support of a caring inter organizational effort to help them live dignified lives in Yemen.

"I advice any refugee coming here," about HIV/AIDS awareness says Dr. Mayada Faisal Nabih Mohammed, a medical specialist at the National Aids & STD Programme, which works with the Ministry of Health & Population in supplying HIV infected refugees and Yemenis with medical care, and support. It is caring doctors like Dr. Mohammad, who enact the beliefs entailed within the articles of the memorandum of understanding, which states that HIV infected refugees "enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, similar to what a Yemeni national could expect," according to article 3 of the memorandum. "Refugees are provided with antiretroviral medication," says Dr. Mohammad and they are the same type of drugs given to HIV infected Yemeni citizens. Also, "the medicine is free," for refugees just like it is for infected Yemenis, says Dr. Mohammad. All HIV infected are "registered by a code number, we do a CD4 test investigation, and then after that we discuss with the Ministry on how to give medicine to those in need," says Dr. Mohammad. A CD4 test is used to determine the number of T cells present int he body. If the T Cell level is below 200 the person has AIDS, but if it is above 200 the person just has HIV, and that person does not need medicine. "We send the (RVs) antiretroviral medication to either the Aden sight or the Sanaa sight of the HIV infected refugees," explains Dr. Mohammad.

Also, HIV/AIDS education for refugees and support workers, which is stated in article 3 of the memorandum of understanding, has been and will continue to be enacted by the NAP program. "There is s counseling for them (HIV Infected refugees)," explains Dr. Mohammad. In this year Nap and Maristops combined forces to "give a seminar/lecture to refugees living in Yemen," says Dr. Mohammad. Nap has a long history in educating refugees and foreigners about HIV/Aids prevention. Nap worked with the "Triangle organizations to hand out info flyer's to refugees in Somalia about the HIV in 2004," says Dr. Mohammad. This memorandum between the UNHCR and the Ministry of Health & Population has helped numerous refugee families to live in dignity, and in good health.

"At the end of the day, a refugee is a refugee," says Abdul Malik Abbound, executive relations assistant at the UNHCR, when asked about family planning for HIV infected refugees. "Reproductive health is a right, and like all other human rights, its applies to refugees and persons living in refugee like conditions," according to the Reproductive health in Refugee Situations manual provided by the UNHCR. Yes. Everyone has the right to reproduce and have children, but at what health cost will this bring to HIV infected refugees and the citizens of the country they live in is a question that looms in the minds of many Yemenis and expatriates. A prime example of an HIV infected refugees family is Omar and Mariam, which are false names used for a husband and wife couple, who are 41 and 25 respectively and parents to 5 year old boy and 6 year old girl, from Ethiopia. They learned about their HIV status right before the Ramadan Holy month of fasting when they went for testing at the Central Laboratory. They are HIV positive but their children are HIV negative.

Omar comments, "I don't know how I got HIV. I came here (Al-Gumhouri Teaching Hospital) for the CD4 test, medication, and then I will go to the United Nations for more help." According to Mariam, "we feel scared about the future of our children." "We have no family to take care of us," says Omar. They hope the refugee camp will take care of their children when they die explains Dr. Al-Nhemi who translated on Omar behalf. "Our fate, and the fate of our children depend on the United Nations, says Mariam. One would expect a mother and father, who is facing death to be fearful, sad, and crying, but Oman explains, "No, I am not sad, because disease and death comes from Allah. I am a Muslim and I believe in Allah. Everything is from Allah. If sickness comes to a person, there is a cure." Mr. Abbound, says "we advice HIV infected refugees not to have children because they could pass the disease onto their kids." But there is no way to impose this practice on them. Omar and Mariam is an HIV infected refugee family who has taken head to Mr. Abbound's advice. They have stopped having children because they don't want to pass on the deadly HIV disease on to their love ones.

The concept of HIV infected refugees living in Yemen and conceive children scare many Yemeni and expatriates. Abdul Hizaam, 43, a Yemeni man who is Manager of bank says, "That (HIV infected refugees) is a problem. They should live in their own countries." Mymy Perez, a paraprofessional says, "I think it is better to help them out because they don't have the chance to get help at home," but "Isolation from others who are not HIV infected is better." Johan, a Filipino guest service agent at a hotel says, "No they should not be allowed to have children because he/she have Aids." They should be sent back to their country. It's better for them to stay in their country. I would be afraid if they were in my neighborhood." Not everyone has harsh opinions about HIV infected refugees living in Yemen. Lyunmila, a Russian lady who is a guest relations officer in a hotel, says, "I don't think HIV infected refugees should have children. It's not good. I use to meet one who had HIV and she had a baby and the baby died one year later of Aids." It is this sad experience that has molded the viewpoint of Lyunmil, but at the same time she is sympathetic to the HIV infected refugees in Yemen. While many people fear that HIV infected refugees will conceive HIV infected babies, and possible spread the HIV to Yemenis and foreigners, Ms. Lyunmila sticks with the more modern approach by saying, "they should use birth control," and this is her belief that birth control will be suitable for preventing the spread of HIV. Yes fear is present in the hearts and minds of many Yemeni and foreigners alike, but Dr. Mohammad puts these fears to rest by saying, "They (HIV infected refugees) are not the problem. Most of the infected Yemenis are returnees from other countries," and it is not the refuges giving us HIV." So we should not be "afraid of the refugees," says Dr. Mohammad.

Scabies & Leishmania still rampant in Yemen
Scabies and leishmania are skin diseases that remain prevalent in Yemen due to poor hygiene, a lack of awareness, and a lack of qualified health professionals to address the problem. Rural areas and major cities alike are breeding grounds for these two contagious parasitical diseases.

Scabies is caused by a small parasite, which tunnels through the skin, causing severe itching. Although the disease is non-fatal, the sensation is highly unpleasant, becoming worst when the eggs hatch beneath the skin. Since the disease is highly contagious, if one member of a family gets scabies, the whole family requires treatment.

Scabies affects both adults and children, in rural areas and major cities alike. “Scabies comes from animals like dogs and cats, and sharing dirty or infected clothing,” says Dr Khalid al-Azbi, a Sana’a dermatologist & laser therapist. He says scabies is one of the major skin diseases found in the rural areas of Yemen because hygiene is a major problem. Many villages in Yemen lack a sufficient supply of water to maintain cleanliness. To compound the problem, illiteracy prevents many people from learning about skin diseases, their symptoms, and preventative measures.

“Fighting the disease requires a community effort,” says Dr. Al-Azbi. He visits his village, Hajaj in al-Daeh County, southern Yemen once a month, where he sees patients and informs people of the disease. “Many patients come and complain of itching. They sometimes think the problem is cancer, because they don’t know about scabies and cancer is better known in Yemen,” he says.

However, it is not just rural people who contract the disease. Many city dwellers contract scabies because “some people bring the village life into the city,” says Dr. al-Azbi. By using their backyard to house goats and sheep, they may be unwittingly bringing the disease into their homes.

Insecticides and pesticides can kill scabies in farm animals, and in infected clothing, but “a change in lifestyle is what is really needed,” says Dr al-Azbi. He set out a three-step process for curing scabies. Firstly, an antihistamine is given to the patient to stop the itching; secondly, an antibiotic is used to fight the infection; and thirdly, a medicine is used to kill the parasite that causes scabies. Infected clothing should also be kept away from people for at least three days, since the parasite dies if it is not in contact with humans during that period.

Another skin disease common in Yemen is Leishmania. Leishmania causes inflammation and destruction of bodily tissue and creates wounds which eventually leave the patient scarred for life. Leishmania is endemic in certain areas of Yemen such as al-Joaf, Mareb, and al-Ryashia. Dr Abdulrahman. M. al-Wadei, a consultant dermato-virologist and a faculty member at Sana’a University, treats about 300 leishmania patients a year. “My patients come from all over Yemen, but mainly low altitude areas where sand flies, which carry the parasite that causes leishmania, transmit the disease from rodents or infected persons to the next victim,” he says.

Unlike scabies, certain types of leishmania can have very serious effects on humans. Visceral leishmania is a fatal variant of this disease, which is also known as black fever. If left untreated this form of the disease is nearly always fatal. It spreads into the spleen, bone marrow and liver and attacks and destroys the immune system. Another harmful form is mucocutaneous leishmania. This produces disfiguring lesions, which destroy the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat. Leishmania is found in tropical countries in the Middle East and Africa.

To treat Leishmania Sodium stibogloconate is injected every 21 days, or a tablet is given to the patient to stop it from spreading to other parts of the body and destroying facial tissue, and tissue of other exposed body parts, explains Dr al-Azbi. Sometimes cosmetic surgery is needed to reconstruct, areas of the body that have been scared or destroyed by leishmania.

A mosquito net over one’s bed can also be an important preventative measure in epidemic areas.

Dr al-Azbi, sees many cases of both scabies and leishmania. “When I receive such cases, I refer them to Al-Thorah Hospital for free treatment,” he says.

One example is Adries, a 20 year old farmer from the outskirts of Sana’a. Adries contracted scabies at a friends wedding and went to consult Dr al-Azbi, who gave him the three treatments and a multi-vitamin because he was malnourished.

The treatment was a success, but according to Dr al-Azbi temporary medical treatment is only the first step. Preventive measures, including the boiling of clothing belonging to an infected person or laying them in direct sunlight, are vital if the disease is to be contained. Dr al-Azbi’s simple but practical advice works. “Most of my patients listen to my advice because they are desperate,” and they know “they will spend more money if they get sicker,” says Dr al-Azbi.

Posted in: Reports
Written By: Robert F. Draper, III
Article Date: Sep 18, 2007 - 12:39:56 PM
SOUL works to improve Yemen by empowering women

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SOUL meets to discuss ways of improving vocational and educational opportunities for women in Yemen.
The hurdles women face in pursuing careers are huge, say Arwa al-Deram, Afrah al-Zouba, and Subhiah Abdullah, the founders of the SOUL organization—an NGO concerned with empowering women to pursue their educational and vocational goals.

Cultural beliefs and traditions, such as early marriage, combined with a lack of government support make the pursuit of educational and vocational goals especially difficult for women. Because of this, the women have banded together with others to create SOUL.

Al-Deram was employed by the Ministry of Health when she came up with the idea of creating SOUL. “I got to know many international NGO’s,” said al-Deram, “but they were mainly focusing on things like giving clothing to people. We thought it necessary to create an NGO that used a developmental approach, as this approach helps the people to help themselves.”

“They say, information is power,” said al-Deram, “and it is through Information Technology that SOUL is providing impoverished Yemeni women with the power to contribute to support their family and society.” Al-Deram believes that SOUL gives women a chance to get better jobs, and support themselves, and, as she put it, “it enables Yemeni women work for the betterment of themselves and their family.”

When al-Deram was a child her family told her that she would only be permitted to study until the sixth grade. At that moment she feared she would become one of the many Yemeni women who never have a chance to pursue their passions and accomplish their life dreams Although she was young, she spoke honestly to her parents and brothers. "They saw my devotion to learning, and it convinced them to let me continue," she said. On many occasions her family suggested that she stop her educational pursuits, but despite their dissuading suggestions she continued, and gradually she gained their respect by her persistence and willingness to achieve in high school, and beyond.

Despite the difficulties al-Deram faced, she graduated from high school, which for most Yemeni women indicates that the time had come to get married, have kids, and live a life of domesticity, but this is not what al-Deram had in mind.

“When I graduated from high school I was surprised that my brother and father agreed to pay for me to attend college," she said. "They agreed that it was good for me to continue my education.” With the support of her family she attended college in Yemen and eventually traveled to America, where she studied at the University of Minnesota. Her story shows how a supportive environment can assist Yemeni women to achieve great success. But this is rarely the situation in Yemen.

Subhiah Abdullah, principal of the Khadijah Basic School and High School tells the story of a 7th grade student who was due to be married, but wanted to continue with her studies. “The student wanted 30 days off for her honeymoon and she wanted to make up any missed homework, classes, and exams," Abdullah said. But such accommodations could not be made and her request was denied. "As a result of her 30 days off, she missed a great deal of class work, and eventually dropped out," said Abdullah.

Afrah al-Zouba, a member of SOUL who has a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceuticals and a master’s in public health, said she wanted to work as a professional, but was never given work opportunities. "I wanted to work in public health to help poor people, but they didn't provide the actual work, and research for me to do,” she said. A lack of resources and funding, and a lack of support from the Ministry of Public Health prevented her from helping the poor. "I wanted to develop medicine for sick poor people," said al-Zouba, but when poor people came to her she was unable to help them. "I felt embarrassed because I didn't have medicine to give to them.” al-Zouba believes that it is because of corruption that she wasn’t able to help in the way she’d intended.” It is simply corruption. The money doesn't go where it should," she said.

"I knew one lady who used to work, but her family would force her to give her money to them," said al-Zouba. According to al-Zouba, the woman was from a broken family, and "when you have broken families, financial corruption is a problem.”

SOUL functions on the idea that it is not just women, but the whole of Yemeni society that stands to benefit from enabling Yemeni women to realize their ambitions. This is a view supported by others in the community.

"I think it is good for Yemeni girls to work because sometimes the men at home can't work,” said Mohsen Abdullah Ali Hadi, 22, an English teacher. He believes that Yemeni women are sometimes encouraged to work because of poverty, and if women work they can increase the household income. Although Ali-Hadi supports the right of women to work, he also represents a culture that is resistant to women and under-values the role they may play in society. “The role of a secretary or receptionist is best for women,” said al-Hadi. “Some jobs require women to be brave, and they are not suitable for these positions. It is in the way of the Prophet Muhammad that men are the leaders of the community,” said Ali-Hadi.

Al-Deram, who also has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, accepts that careers in business or politics, for example, can be challenging, but sees no reason why women cannot excel in these fields if given the chance “You have to manage your priorities,” she said. “If a woman has a good sense of priority and if her husband supports her she can do anything.” She strongly believes that women can be assertive when dealing with difficult decisions, and one’s gender does not interfere with a person becoming a professional.

 

Posted in: Reports
Written By: Robert F. Draper III
Article Date: Sep 15, 2007 - 1:54:54 AM34

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Thousands of Yemeni babies are being given a chance to live—a chance they did not have prior to the establishment of a trade relationship with Cuba. 

Although Cuba, and its long-time leader Fidel Castro are often associated with negative stories, Cuba is making positive accomplishments in the field of gynecology in Yemen. According to Ariel Gonzales Hernandez, third secretary deputy head of mission at the Cuban Embassy in Sana’a, Cuba is set to sell an increased number of the drug “Anti-D” to Yemen. As of now 10,000 dosages have been sold to Yemen and more are expected. The drugs have an estimated value of $100,000.

Anti-D is used to treat babies born to parents who have a difference in their Rhesus (Rh) factors. “People who are Rh positive have a protein known as D antigen on the surface of their red blood cells, and they are said to be Rh D-positive,” according to an article written by medical expert Hameed A. and published on the U.S.-based Baby Center website. “When an Rh D-negative mother is carrying a Rh D-positive baby (inherited from a Rh D-positive dad), Rh Isoimmunization can occur.”

According to Dr. Abdo M. Shidiwa, director and manager of the Al-Medina Medical Corps in Sana’a, Isoimmunization causes the mother’s immune system to view the fetus as a parasite and it attacks and destroys the fetus. 

“The immune system may react to the baby’s blood as if it were a foreign invader, and produce anti-bodies against it,” said Chrissie Hammond, a professional midwife in Yemen. “The antibodies may then attack and destroy the baby’s red blood cells,” which bring about liver or heart failure, and ultimately death.

In the opinion of Dr. Shidiwa, between 5,000 and 10,000 babies have probably died in Yemen from Rh Isoimmunization syndrome because many parents didn’t have proper diagnoses. The government of Yemen does not have any statistical information about Rh Isoimmunizaton syndrome. 

Dabiya Hussein is a 28-year-old farmer and housewife from Morocco. She is currently a patient at Al-Thawra General Medical Hospital in Sana’a and is expecting to give birth to her 6th child. 

“One of my children died inside my womb,” she said. That is why she wants to take the Anti-D medication. According to obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Samira al-Towaity, Hussein’s fetus probably died of Rh Isoimmunization syndrome, which the Anti-D medication could prevent. 

Nadia Abdullah, a 28-year-old housewife in Sana’a, has taken Anti-D twice during previous childbirths and she is expecting to take it for her 5th child. Neither she nor her children have experienced any side effects from the Anti-D medication. 

According to Hammond, side effects from using Anti-D rarely occur. “There can be a local reaction at the site of the injection, or an allergic reaction in the mother,” Hammond said. But in Yemeni women, “I don’t see any side effects,” said Dr. al-Towaity, who has examined and tested many Yemeni women from both rural areas and major cities. 

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends routine Anti-D vacations at 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy to all Rh -negative mothers to prevent antibodies being produced following small silent bleeds, which may happen in 1/1.5 percent of pregnancies.

Cuba’s desire to increase medical expertise in Yemen started in 1975, when it helped create the facility of medicine at the University of Aden. Another significant development in Yemeni-Cuban relations was when the scientific advisor of Cuba’s State Council promised to manufacture anti-cancer medications in Yemen to combat the increasing number of cancer cases among Yemenis. “The faculty of medicine has produced over 3,000 Yemeni medical doctors, mainly taught by Cuban professors,” says Mr. Hernandez. 

As of now, “Cuba has about 65 doctors and professors working in Yemen,” and most of them work in military hospitals such as the Central Military Hospital in Sana’a.

Cuba would like to form a stronger and more lucrative trade relationship with Yemen, but U.S. sanctions against the Caribbean nation stand in the way of establishing larger profitable relations. While many countries in the region export and import products such as textiles, computer technology, electronics, and automobiles, sanctions have severely affected Cuba’s economy, limiting Cuba to exporting and importing only a small amount of products. One of Cuba’s main exports is educated professionals.

“A Yemeni cannot purchase a product that has more than 10 percent raw Cuban material in it,” Hernandez said. But Cuba has exported its medical expertise to every part of the known world. “We’ve sent over 30,000 doctors around the world. When the United States has people killing abroad, we have people saving lives,” he said.

Assisted with the support of caring guidance counselors and motivated teachers, female students progress in school despite having to overcome cultural traditions and poverty. "People need to value the books," says Reem, a 16 year old student at Rab'ah Adwyyah Model School, who is planning to travel to the USA. One day she wants to build a large library in the Middle East for all people to learn the value of reading. In Rab'ah Adwyyah Model School there are many girls who want to further their education. For instance, there is Yasameen, 14, who says, "I want to be a doctor to help the people." Her friends Rowan and Ahaim also want to be doctors. At Khadijah Basic & High School, Sokaiana, 16, a 12th grader, wants to be the first Yemeni female to go to Harvard or Yale. She says, "I want to be a lawyer or a doctor," and she knows she needs to earn good grades to accomplish her dreams. Some female students have very personal reason for going to college. Layla, 19, a 12 th grader has numerous family members suffering from asthma and heart related problems, and this is why she says she wants to be a heart surgeon. Yes many female students have high expectations, but cultural traditions can interfere with the achievement of educational and career goals.

Early marriage is one of those cultural problems. Layla says that her sister went to America, got married, and she stopped learning. Yes marriage is good, but Layla wants to wait until after she receives her education to settle down and raise a family. Principal Subhiah Abdullah of Khadijah Basic & High School gives a prime example of the problem of early marriage. A 7th grader wanted 30 days off for her honeymoon, and she wanted to make up any lost work, classes, and exams. But such accommodations could not be facilitated and so her request was denied. As a result of her 30 days off, she missed a great deal of school, and eventually dropped out. For those girls who are forced into early marriage, they are still permitted to attend a few classes, and monthly examinations. But unfortunately, most of the girls that get married, quit school. According to Fairooz Al-Makalih, a 13 year old veteran social worker, early marriage is not the only problem. Ms. Al-Makalih says that female students are not encouraged by their parents to attend school, and parents don't pay enough attention to their daughter. According to Ms. Al-Makalih, many female students are made to assist in the house keeping, preparation of meals, and the traditional household duties of the Yemeni woman. Also, some female students see education as something not needed for them because most of the educated women from universities sit at home unemployed. As a result, some girls prefer to attend English or technology schools after high school graduation. Also, economic reasons prevent both boys and girls from attending college.

To confront these problems social workers like Ms. Al-Makalih teach students how to stay focus, establish written goals, and prioritize there day. In severe cases, Ms. Al-Makilih has counseled parents on different ways to motivate their female children, and she assist parents with domestic issues. Also, Thabet Al-Faqih,31, a deputy manager at Rab'ah Adwyyah Model School, motivates his students by awarding the top ranking students certificates, and encouraging each student to work and motivate each other. In addition, social workers like 14 year veteran Ms. Fawzia Saleh Al-Falahi at Khadijah Basic & High School for Girls has established student managed clubs to encourage the female students to adopt leadership roles within the school.

Obviously, Rab'ah Adwyyah Model School is the place for female students to learn and prosper, but this is due to the attention they receive. According to Mr. Jabbar, the "girl schools get more attention than the boys school," but unfortunately cultural traditions hinder girls from reaching their full potential.

By Robert Franklin Draper III
Nov 28, 2006, 12:33
Published in Yemen Observer Newspaper at
http://www.YObserver.com

Like too many of Yemen’s schools, Ibn Majid School is plagued by overcrowding, inadequate equipment, and stressed-out teachers.
“One mistake from a doctor can kill a patient, but one mistake from a teacher can kill a generation.” So said Deputy Principal Anas Taher of Rab’ah Adwyyah Model School, a female school in Al-Wahdah district, in recent remarks about the consistently poor salaries of Yemen’s schoolteachers.


Teachers bear a large responsibility for the future of our children. Good teachers can inspire in their pupils a lifetime love of learning, help them develop analytical thinking skills, and prepare them for a future career. Bad teachers leave students unprepared to succeed in the world. But although teachers are one of society’s most critical resources, they are not paid commensurately. Ameen al-Adrisi, a 12th grade English teacher at Abdul Nasser High School for Boys, located in the Tahreer District of Sana’a, makes just $130 per month. “I have two jobs,” he said. “I teach foreigners Arabic, and here I teach English.”

His salary is a fairly average salary for schoolteachers. Deputy Principal Anas Taher of Rab’ah Adwyyah Model School, a female school in Al-Wahdah district, says that bad and good teachers are paid the same, giving teachers little incentive to improve. Also, some teachers with families are forced to move from one apartment to the next in search of inexpensive housing accommodations. In the capital city of Sana’a, an average one-room apartment can cost $50, which is a large chunk of a monthly paycheck.

According Taher, finding affordable housing is not the only problem teachers have as a result of low salaries. Many teachers have problems supporting their families, and paying for medical care. This causes frustration and excessive stress. Yet it is these people, under all manner of stresses that we expect to shape the minds of future generations. Rewarding good teachers for good work would directly improve the futures of Yemen’s children. General Director of Education in Sana’a, Mohammed Abdullah al-Fadli, confirms that the salary for teachers in Sana’a Yemen is low.

But his superiors are discussing increasing the budget, he says. Yemen is a poor country, he adds, so they are doing the best they can. Unfortunately, “the best they can” isn’t putting food on the tables for the families of these teachers, or paying for their healthcare. “If the Yemeni government can spend $3 million for an embassy in another country, it should be able to spend the money on its teachers and students,” said one teacher, who gave no name. Sana’s school buildings suffer from neglect almost as much as its teachers. Classrooms are inadequate for the rapidly expanding numbers of students, and often as many as 140 children are squeezed into one classroom.

In fact, overcrowding is one of the most serious threats to Sana’a’s schools. The Abdul Nasser High School is a primary example of a dilapidated and overcrowded school. Teachers are expected to teach a 45-minute class period to 80 to 100 students, on average. In some classes, “we are teaching more than 140 students,” said al-Adrisi. Kids cram next to each other in the few chairs that are present. Those who cannot find a chair are forced to stand, he said.


Most schools lack basic facilities especially those in rural areas.
According to Abdul Jabbar, 33, the Supervisor of Tahreer District for the English language program, the school has not been taken care of, but he said that the Ministry of Education plans to address the problems. Until then, crowding will remain a major issue. Children get little or no individual attention from their teachers, and teachers are forced to lecture at their classes rather than engage them in more interactive learning. There is also little opportunity for children to ask questions. Such a large class size means that mostly students are taught by rote memorization.

But memorizing something does not mean the student understands it, or is capable of thinking critically for himself. Still, Principal Ahmed Nasser al-Hada says this year is better than last year. According to al-Hada, the Ministry of Education plans to demolish the school, rebuild it, and make it bigger and modernized, but presently there are no plans to build onto the school, or rout some of the students to less crowded schools. Another problem with the school is that attendance is only taken during the 1st and 4th period. According to Jabbar, teachers “don’t even have a list,” of the students in the class, because there are so many students.

“To be present or not to be present is not an issue,” said Jabbar. This makes it rather difficult for a teacher to determine how a particular child is performing. According to Mr. al-Adrisi, one final exam is given at the end of the school year, and that determines who passes and who fails. ”Many people immigrate from the country side to the city to get a better education,” said al-Fadli, and this is the major contributor to overcrowding. To combat the problem, al-Fadli says, “we are building more than 40 schools right now,” and hopefully in the future, things will be better.

“I have to give all students the opportunity to learn,” said al-Fadli, and as of now, this is the best they can do. But ideally, classes should have less than 50 students, said al-Adrisi. Even then, students would have little interaction with their teachers. Schools are also sorely lacking in equipment. “We need to build English labs,” equipped with audiotapes and computers, said al-Adrisi. 16-year old 12th grader Izz al-Deen says he wants a bigger library, bigger classrooms, and computer classes. All of that seems reasonable. But because there is no electrical infrastructure to speak of, the wishes of the students and teachers go unfulfilled. Presently, there are no plans to refurbish the school with electrical wiring and modernize the school with computers.

Many Yemeni public girl schools are more modernized, but the Raba’ah Adwyyah Model School is in need of some work. Principal Subhiah Abdullah said that they need modernized teaching aids, such as computers, televisions, projectors, and radios. Currently, teachers are only equipped with the traditional black board, ministry-assigned textbooks, and scant pieces of furniture.

According to Abdullah, the schools have repeatedly requested many of these items, but the requests goe unanswered. “Poor people are sent to this school, and the high ranking official students go to Al-Nasser,” she said. Hussein Ahmed Ali, 47, a teacher at Khadijah Basic & High School for Girls, says, “here in Yemen, we (teachers) do not have enough materials to use,” in the class.

So, often they are forced to improvise. Ali is hoping for computers, so he won’t have to present hand drawn visuals to his students. Also, Shafee’ah Kibs, who is the deputy manager for Khadijah Basic and High School for Girls, said they were promised 15 computers by the ministry. It is hoped that each classroom in each school will be equipped with at least one computer for teacher and student use. Unfortunately, they haven’t shown up yet.
Copyright 2002 - 2006 Yemen Observer
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Written by Robert Franklin Draper III
Well I chose the bus because it was and still is filled with greater eventful incidents. You choose your ride but either way its going to be a bumpy ride accompanied by near mist accidents, congested traffic, road raged drivers, and street hustlers. If you think that is all you have to deal with then think again because most likely you will be traveling the third world streets that are adorned with pot holes, and road side construction while sitting comfortably in a dilapidated bus or taxi that has a floor covered with old qat leaves. One of my most eventful trips occurred on Baghdad Street.

Baghdad Street is a small strip of inner city cement paved road that connects Baghdad street travelers to the nearby Sana'a Trading Center. Not to mention, it sports a gym, karate dojo, two barber shops, and a plethora of restaurants. On many occasion I stood in front of those restaurant with my hand stretched out signaling for the Highal destined bus to pull over and pick me up.
A few busses filled with passengers usually drive past before I can get a 1/2 filled but to notice me. When it does, I am on my way destined to Highel Avenue that stretches from the end of Baghdad to Sana'a Main Post Office. While searching for a seat that is not to close to the women, and not to crowded, the bus takes off. You are lucky if the bus doesn't take off with one of your feet hanging outside in the wind. Like always, expect your bus driver to chew a large wad of qat so he can get thoroughly high (intoxicated) while he drives you, your spouse, and children safely to their destinations. Yes! There is nothing like reliable Yemeni transportation. If you are blessed to start your travels off at the beginning of Baghdad street, you will see the above mentioned places, and eventually you will come across the notorious Baghdad gangster, who stands on the side of Baghdad street waving a stick in the air for the passing busses to pull over and pay their street tax. Yes as expected, Yemen has its gangsters, and the Baghdad Gangster is notorious for his street tax. On two occasions, I was privileged to be riding on a bus that had a bus driver who refused to submit to the demands of extortion from the Baghdad Street Gangster. As expected, the bus driver gave his speech comprising of haram this, and haram that. Basically, he was saying the extortion being perpetrated against him and the stopping of his bus to implement criminal activity was not permissible according to Islam, but did the gangster care? No. He didn't. On both occasions, the bus driver lost out in conveying his morally correct message, and he also lost all of his passengers. Yep. That's right. I had to step out of the vehicle with all of the other men, women, and children because our bus driver was not one to be intimidated. But, that was my past experiences because on that day, my bus driver was quite cooperative with his extorter. One may ask did the gangster have a threatening presence for my bus driver and the majority of bus drivers to be cooperative in the extortion of their money? Was he packing a gun? The answer to both of those questions is no. Apparently, on Baghdad street it is an understood realization that certain entities exist, and that their mere presence, and most likely the tribe they represent is enough to be feared. If one was to compare this Yemeni gangster to any other Yemeni, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The Baghdad Gangster sports a simple ezar, old sandals, and the traditional Yemeni jambia. Every time when I see him, he simply stands on the side of the street, and he waves his stick for the busses to pull over. The more compliant bus drivers gently hand him 20 Yemeni Rails, and they are on their way. Many days before, I noticed him, and my friend Sam pointed him out to me. Sam said, "I bet he earns at least 4,000 to 5,000 YR per day." I was a little hesitant to agree with him because I took a more modest assumption and speculated that the man probably earned about 3000 YR per day. Either way, the Baghdad Gangster was a paid man, and he even had a crew of men who dealt with the street tax on his behalf when he wasn't present, or when he was dealing with another bus driver at the scene. I must admit, it was a thrill to see the man in action. In America, we see gangsterism glorified in the entertainment industry, and to see it in action in a Muslim country, even if it was at a minor level, was fascinating. Don't get me wrong. I don't think crime is good, but as an American, the way of the underground has always sparked some interest in me. If you are blessed to have a bus driver that is cooperative, unlike I had on two occasions, you will be provided with a comfortable ride comprised of numerous stops. But don't expect to feel all that safe.

Who would expect the transportation authorized by the country of Yemen to permit the side door to always stay open? Ever since I road on the busses, I have dreaded sitting next to the open door for fear that I may fall out. Praises due to God that has never happened, but on those sharp turns, I am forced by the necessity of safety to firmly grasp the bar handles affixed to the seats in front of me. On one of these stops, our anxious bus driver was in such a hurry to drop his passengers off, and continue to his next stop that he failed to check if one of the lady passengers was completely out of the bus. The bus was in motion attempting to enter into a vacant space between two cars while the lady had one foot on the bus floor, and the other on the street. He dragged her for about 5 feet, while numerous people attempted to inform him of the incident, but he was too intoxicated to hear them. Eventually, he did stop after hearing the woman's body slam against a nearby parked car. By now, you may be wondering, are the taxis any safer.

Yes on occasion, I have chosen a taxi for my means of transportation. As expected, the tax is much faster, but it does cost more money. The key to getting a good deal and not getting swindled out of a lot of money is to bargain with the taxi driver before you enter into the taxi. Since most taxis in Yemen don't have meters, you or the taxi driver will decide on the price, and if you are new to Yemen they will try to pull a fast one on you. If you are expecting to travel about 10 miles or so, you will probably have to pay 250 to 300 YR. But a trip to the American Embassy from Diary Street will run you about 500 to 600 YR. Oh yeah! Don't expect the average taxi drive to be any different than the bus drivers. On many occasions, I have been in a taxi where the driver ran multiple red lights, and the police were standing on the corner or sitting in their police car chewing qat and smoking. This behavior is normal. There is a good side to having an intoxicated taxi driver. He usually charges you a substantially reduced amount of money for the destination you are trying to reach, and of course he does this because he is too intoxicated to know better. But as expected, you don't always want an intoxicated person driving you around town, so if you desire a more professional driver they are available, and usually at a reduced price. I must say that I prefer the professional uniformed Yemeni taxi driver over the qat chewing one. The car is cleaner, air conditioned, and it is equipped with a meter. These taxis are adorned with advertisements, and they are usually found in the wealthy area of town. God. There is nothing like the Americanized professional way of doing business. You can't beat that. Praises due to God!

One may assume that with all of the eventful happenings of bus and taxi travel in Yemen, it would be near to impossible to reach one's destination, but sure enough, I have reached my destination on many occasions and you will too. If eventful bus travel in Yemen is not your forte, then you can always take the taxi, but don't expect much difference in traffic.

Written by Robert Franklin Draper III
published in the Yemen Observer at http://www.YObserver.com 
Bilal Broadway, fitness fanatic

Bilal Broadway, a former bodybuilding champion, is a man with a mission: To improve the physical fitness of the Yemeni people.
“Fitness has been a part of my life since I can remember,” says Broadway. And now he wants to make it part of the lives of Yemenis and expatriates.

His base of operations: the Health Club of Yemen, located in Sana’a. Raised in North Carolina, Broadway spent his teenage years playing American football and basketball. Training for those sports required him to spend lots of time in the weight room, where he learned he preferred lifting weights to playing ball sports. He became an avid competitive bodybuilder, and he parlayed the knowledge he gained in the gym into a career as a physical fitness trainer.

At the age of 20, when most of his peers were trying to do as little schoolwork as possible, Broadway was juggling his college studies, competitive bodybuilding and an independent, self-directed course in health, nutrition, and exercise physiology. His studies convinced him that fitness was within everyone’s grasp, if they could be convinced to pursue it. “There are only certain people who can be doctors and lawyers,” he says, “but everyone can be a student of fitness.” When Broadway talks about fitness, he’s more likely to extol its spiritual benefits than its physical ones.

He believes a good workout in the gym enables him to reach “that place of physical and spiritual uplifting,” and he wants the people of Yemen to experience that feeling. Broadway scoffs at the notion that exercise interferes with the practice of Islam. To the contrary, he says, exercise enhances religious practice. It instills self-confidence and discipline, and gives people more energy for prayer, study, and memorizing the Qur’an. As such comments suggest, there’s more than sweat involved in Broadway’s version of fitness training. He teaches his students the fundamentals of nutrition and exercise physiology, with an emphasis on the benefits of cardiovascular health.

And he teaches the practical benefits of strength and resistance training, explaining how it increases energy, clears the mind, and relieves tension and anxiety. Broadway begins his instruction with a talk about nutrition. Much of that talk involves correcting the misinformation his students gather from the Internet. His students are genuinely eager to learn, he says, but they need his experience and expertise to separate the useful information from the rumors, crackpot theories, and outdated beliefs that are found online.

Once a good nutritional foundation is established, Broadway turns his attention to the benefits of a good cardiovascular workout. Yemenis, and especially expatriates, need a cardio workout to handle the thin air of a high-altitude country like Yemen, he says. Akhilesh Chauhan, 39, an employee of the Coca-Cola Co., says his cardio workout helps him maintain his bodyweight and “relaxes me from the pressure of work.”

Perhaps even better, his trim physique and increased energy please his wife. She encourages him to go to the gym three times a week. Said Adughsh, 40, a native of Jerusalem, is another workout enthusiast. For 20 years, he has enjoyed regular swims and runs on the treadmill, and he insists his workouts relieve stress, help him focus, and give him confidence and a positive outlook. Because exercising has benefited him so much, he says, “I motivate my family to do the same.” He considers good health and exercise a religious duty.

“The Prophet Mohammad,” he says, “said that we should teach our kids how to swim and play with swords.” The third component of Broadway’s fitness program is strength and resistance training, which, among other benefits, alleviates back and neck problems and helps the body fight off sickness. Yemeni Asaad al-Jaboubi, 30, caught the exercise bug from his wife, who, he says, “was always going to the gym.” Admitting to himself that he’d grown fat as he aged, he started going along with his wife when she went to work out. He developed a passion for weightlifting, and before long bought himself a well-equipped home gym.

When he is not lifting weights, he enjoys relaxing in the sauna at the Health Club of Yemen. Like al-Jaboubi, a family member showed Qusai Ibn Akhmad the benefits of exercise. Akhmad, 26, was encouraged to lift weights by his father. A weightlifter for the past 10 years, Akhmad has more than just big muscles to show for his efforts. He says weightlifting has improved his memory and made his thinking quicker and sharper. And he credits Bilal Broadway with showing him how to perform his exercises properly.

In addition to making his students more fit, Broadway is improving the management of the health club. Before Mr. Broadway arrived, says General Manager Tamseem S. al-Aghbary, “we thought that each person needed an individual fitness trainer.” Broadway showed him how just a few fitness trainers can design workout and dietary programs for a whole gym full of clients, and then teach students how to follow a fitness regime on their own, with minimal help from an instructor.

Broadway also established a few rules. Smoking and qat chewing are now prohibited on gym premises, and there’s a dress code. Clients no longer wear sandals as they run on the treadmill or lift weights while wearing a robe and a jambia. The result is a more pleasant and professional environment for everyone, and a more successful business for al-Aghbary. “Bilal Broadway is like a brother to us,” al-Aghbary says.

“We gain a lot of experience from him. It’s a blessing from Allah.” Broadway wouldn’t put it that way. The real blessing, he says, is fitness and health. To learn more about Broadway and the Health club of Yemen, call 967-73418-1842 or send an email to tafakkir@hotmail.com .

Emergence of physical fitness in Yemen
Fitness is not just for the foreigners anymore. Now the Yemeni middle class business owners, and young novice sports players are crowding the gyms to get that tone muscular look, and bodybuilder strength.

Over the past 5 years in Yemen, physical fitness has evolved from a sport for the tourist, to a way for Yemeni people to maintain good health, and even compete in the national body building circuit. Hesham Ali Salah, 23, a native of Sana'a and a student of Civil Engineering at Dublan University in England who is presently on summer vacation, comments that exercise helps him in loosing weight, and the aerobic workout provides him with more energy and endurance during the day. He plainly says, " I can concentrate more when reading books," and he believes that it is from his 3 days a week routine in running, which he says is his favorite sport. Also, the Sheraton Hotel Assistant Recreation Manager Shamsuddin Al-Dubaei, 25, from Tazz, says that he is an avid player of tennis, and he enjoys running the treadmill. Both sports make him feel energetic, happy, and says, "My family is happy for me." It was just 5 years ago when Shamsuddin was watching tennis on TV, and at that moment he knew he wanted to do it. Every since then, he plays tennis routinely, and he comments that tennis and eating a lot of salad, potatoes and chicken helps him to loose and maintain his weight. When asked about what kind of Yemeni people flock to the gym at Sheraton, Mr. Al-Dubaei says that most of the people are business men and the women are their wives and daughters. The men usually lift the weights and runt the treadmill while the women workout in the gymnasium doing aerobics and stretching.

Every year in the summer, more Yemeni people are coming to the gym because they have no school, and "most young men want to become professional bodybuilders," says Captain Ahmed Al-Anci, 30, as he sits in his workout clothes in the weightlifting gym of the Yemen Bodybuilding Federation (YBBF) on Bagdad Street. The YBBF is one of the many gyms in Yemen that prepares and sends the best Yemeni bodybuilders to represent them in the national bodybuilder competitions. Haroon Mohammad, 24, a Network Marketer from Lahage has been weightlifting since year 2000 because he wanted to get stronger and loose weight, but after 3 years he embodied ambitions to go professional. In year 2006 at the Aden competition, Haroon placed 3rd in the 70 kilo weight division. When asked about what he wants to do in the future, he says, " I want to be like Rodney Kholman." The YBBF is not the only club that sports a champion. Ali Mohmed Al-Gaeve, 21, from Damear, is a head coach at The Pool and Health Club for Military Officers on Zubary Street across from the Arab Bank placed 6th in the 90 kilo division in the Oman Arabian competition. As the head coach, he says that some of the people who he trains "wants to loose fat, but a lot of them want to gain muscle. In addition to coaching the Yemeni men in using the weight machines, he coaches them in the importance of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin consumption.

Personal Fitness Trainer of 10 years and former national level bodybuilding competitor Bilal Broadway, 35, from North Caroline in America discusses the problems that many Yemeni people encounter while pursuing physical fitness, and the solutions to those problems. Mr. Broadway, who has gained much of his experience in training in American gyms like Bally's Total Fitness in Atlanta Georgia, and Gold's Gym in Greensboro, North Carolina, says that unfortunately the average Yemeni doesn't have proper information about fitness and why it is good for them. The society like many societies in developing countries doesn't promote and motivate people to want to do fitness. Everyone, not just Yemeni people, need a real life example, and they need manuals from updated and reliable sources. Some of that information can be found in English language books that have been translated into Arabic. In fact, there is a book store with these books in the Sana'a Trading Center in Sana'a Yemen. Also, it would be beneficial to the Arab community if Yemeni sports players like Price Naseem and others wrote about their pursuits, trials and tribulations, and methods of training. In addition, Mr. Broadway notices that numerous young people pursue fitness because of movie and music idols they see on TV or read in the Arabic magazines. Mr. Broadway wants the Yemeni fitness players and novice bodybuilders to know that to get positive results they must embrace fitness as an important necessity of their life.

Furthermore, he notices that many people in Yemen, and the majority of people across the world want instant gratification, and they don't want to weight for results. According to Mr. Broadway, "results take time, and very few people get instant gratification." A small positive is that Yemeni people do have a lot of energy due to the fact that carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread) make up the majority of their diet, but on the negative side, they don't eat enough protein, "which is the building blocks of muscle." Good sources of protein are fish, tuna is one of the best, chicken, beef, and lamb.

Mr. Broadway stresses that aerobic activity is extremely important, and one should always consult with a physician prior to engaging in any routine exercise. Furthermore, Mr. Broadway prescribes a light aerobic activity for the novice fitness student. The average Yemeni should start with doing 2 hours a week of any kind of aerobic activity such as running, riding the stationary bike, playing basketball, soccer, or doing martial arts. Any way to naturally increase your heart rate for a lengthy period of time is sufficient.

In addition, a routine exercise plan combining aerobic and weight lifting assist in increasing a person's life span, and it helps in the reduction of heart disease, cancer, and even the common cold

Written by Robert Franklin Draper III. Emergence of physical fitness in Yemen

By Robert Franklin Draper III
Yemen Observer

Restaurants: Would you like Typhoid with that?

After stepping off the 18 hour flight that it takes to get to Yemen, one would expect a delicious cooked meal with mean well done, and the food prepared according to proper health standards, but not here in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. It is evident upon stepping out of the Sana’a airport into a restaurant filled with customers, dirty tables and semi cooked food to order, that the expected health standards are as foreign to the Yemeni people as westerners are to Yemen. It is the norm for waiters and cooks to handle the food barehanded while standing in a steamy hot grill area, where cooked food is stored on open air shelves scattered with dirty, spilled cooking oil, and the remains of day old food. As the flies peruse the variety of delicious soups, meats vegetables, and bread found in one of the restaurants, a customer steps in line for his daily meal. If he hasn’t done his research most travelers, he would not know that “400 cases” of Typhoid fever “occurs each year and 75% of these are acquired while traveling internationally,” according to the (CDC) Center for Disease Control and prevention. Since Typhoid exits in meat products, eggs, and in some fruit peels, the CDC recommends that travelers cook their meats well done, boil the Yemeni faucet water, and clean all fruit and vegetables prior to peeling them. If you can follow these simple guidelines, life in Yemen will be better. But, if you contract the deadly disease, Cyprox 500 is the cure, and depending on how long Typhoid has been in your bloodstream it may take 10 to 30 days to eradicate the disease.

Qat: The Good Feeling Drug

Qat is the drug of choice in Yemen, and why shouldn’t it be. Qat is legally grown on farms in Yemen, and is legally distributed on the corner of the major streets in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. According to Dr. Muhammad Gasam when a person chews Qat it gives them a since of euphoria. Dr. Gasam, who is a long term Qat chewer himself, says it “endows its user with a since of power. It makes a person feel that they can take on any challenge.” Accompanying the feel good side effects of Qat, are symptoms of withdraw. These symptom include depression, loss of anorexia, and weight loss are long term. Also, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency of America, the "widespread frequent use of Qat impacts the productivity," of the society. It impacts the productivity of the worker "because it tends to reduce the workers motivation." This is apparent in Yemen once you have lived here for while. The society actually takes a three to four hour brake between twelve noon and four p.m. for lunch and of course Qat chewing. Furthermore, 'One of the worst side effects of long term Qat usage is liver disease," explains Dr. Gasam. This disease derives from the spray that the Qat farmers use to make the plant grow faster. Accompanying the harmful physical side effects is the economic drain on the individual person and the society as a whole. It is speculated that the average Yemeni spends 1/3 of his paycheck on Qat. As a result of the physical and economic side effects, the Yemen society is a slow paced and slowly productive society while its Arab neighbors are the exact contrast. The Yemen society is a prime example of how massive drug use aids in the dilapidation of the country's workforce.

Malaria: A deadly parasite responsible for over 1000 deaths in Yemen.
In Yemen, as well as many other developing countries, the deadly disease of Malaria infects and disables its victims by bombarding its victims with painful fever and shivering of eh body. As days pass, the infected person looses his desire to eat, and death is soon to follow if the infected person is not treated. Dr. Muhammad Gasam, a doctor who has been practicing in Yemen for over five years says, "Malaria is a disease derived from "four species of parasitic protozoan that infects human red blood cells." According to the (MFI) Malaria Foundation International Organization, "these four protozoa are once celled organism that lives a complex life when compared to other one celled organism. When an Anopheles mosquito feeds on the infected blood of a human, the malaria parasite inters the body of the mosquito and it "reproduces itself in the gut of the Anopheles mosquito," explains (MFI). The parasite needs both the human and the mosquito as a host during its lifecycle. AS s expected, the infected mosquito unknowingly passes the malaria parasite to its next victim through its salivary glands when it feeds. Malaria is widespread throughout the sub-Saharan Africa, and in different regions of the Middle East. Due to the massive eradication program implemented in the 1940' sand 1950's, Malaria is non existent in North America. There are a few cases of Malaria infections, but they are isolated occurrences. Controlling Malaria is a multitask undertaking comprising of identifying infected individuals, prescribing appropriate drugs, educating populations of people where Malaria is prevalent, and using insecticide, and mosquito repellent to fight the mosquito population of the region. Why are multiple strategies needed to combat Malaria? According to the (MFI) "multiple strategies against Malaria are needed because there are numerous species of vectors and four species of Plasmodium. Some populations of Plasmodium, especially Plasmodium falciparum, are resistant to drugs, so alternative drugs need to be used." If the regions where there is a high probability or history of infections undergoes the above preventative measures this deadly disease can be eradicated, just as it has been eradicated in North America.

Medical Needs in Yemen

The medical institutions in Yemen recommended by the American Embassy of Sana'a Yemen are adequate for ones health needs. According to the website of the American Embassy, there is a list of medical professional ranging from psychiatrist, pediatrics to general surgeons and orthopedics. The complete list of the medical professionals and hospitals can be found in the medical info section of the web site.

Written by Robert Franklin Draper III
published at www.YemenMirror.com and
www.TheSop.org in the travel and tourism section

There is nothing like third world love, and I sure do have it bad. Before I came to Yemen, I was told by an Egyptian man that Yemen is like taking a trip 100 years into history with some modern day technology thrown into it to make it bearable. When I arrived in Yemen, it occurred to me that he was almost 100% correct in his opinion. But if you actually want to know more about the history of Yemen you better stroll into the National Museum of Yemen.

Upon entry into the National Museum of Yemen, centered in Takreer, tourist are presented with the spectacular sight of two bronze statues of nude men covered only in a loin cloth standing erect. Inscribed in the bronze plated chest of the statue that depicts an older man reads King Damar Alay Yuhabirr, and inscribed in the chest plate of the other statue is the name Thara. Both of these leaders, who were father and son, rained over the same empire during the days of pre-Islamic rule.


I must admit that at first, I was shocked to see statues of people in Muslim countries, but then I was remained that most cultures at one time made statues of theirs most believed rulers. In a way the statues of King Damar Alay Yuhabirr and his son thara inspired me to reminisce about my college studies in the Roman Empire. Sure enough, the bronze statues of the Yemeni father and son royalty embodied a since of pride.

Once I am finished gazing upon the statue of the ancient rulers of Yemen, my feet some how make their way up the carved rock steps that ascend from the fist floor, and curve around the middle aged brick walls. My feet don't stop until they reach a wide wooden castle like door. This door is affixed with a medieval iron handle, and when you lift it up and drop it down, it knocks upon the door. Lucky for me the museum guide is present. She pulls out a key ring, and fingers through the large iron keys that are each about the size of a grown man’s hand. Eventually, she finds the key for the wooden door that I am standing in front of. She inserts the key, and when she turns it, I hear the sound of a large metal lock opening. When she opens the 4 foot high wooden door the door appears to be about 4 inches thick. It is obvious that this door is archaic in nature, and it resembled a castle door that you would see in a movie about middle aged Europe. I duck by head down, and I enter into the open doorway. The room has a ceiling high enough for the tallest basketball player to feel comfortable standing in. Once we enter the room, we look to our left see stone tablets dating to the time of pre-Islam.


Pre-Islamic Section:

When you stroll into the pre-Islamic section, directly to your left is an assortment of various carved rocks encased in a glass table for preservation and protection. These carved rocks are actually pre historic tools; such as a, a fine granite axe, and a chisel made of bronze. Furthermore, an assortment of “lithic tools, pottery, and loomed weights” is a few of the artifacts that were extracted from an actual grave. Accompanying these tribal artifacts is a grinding stone, bronze spatula, a bell bracelet, a bead bracelet, and a necklace. According to the historical explanation, these items originated from the Neolithic culture of Yemen, which was located in a region between Sana'a and Marib and Dahmir. The people living in the Neolithic culture between the regions mentioned above survived in the desert and mountainous land of Yemen by hunting animals. I love the concept that these people were tribal by nature, and that they were hunters. In a way, the people of ancient Yemen, and the Native Americans are similar. It is enjoyable to find similarities between cultures, even if it is an ancient culture. In this civilization, they had weights, pottery, and tools made from the elements of nature. The ancient tribal Yemeni was just like the Native American in the fact that they took what they needed from nature without harming the environment. Yes the ancient tribal Yemeni is similar to the Native American in the fact that they were a tribal culture and hunters. But in some parts of Yemen, there were agricultural tribes dedicated to cultivating the lush and fertile land, and extracting fruits and vegetables from it. Apparently, prior to Islam, there was a Sabaen culture comprised of a small population of agricultural settlements in small southern Arabian villages. In this region, the excavators found grinding stones, decorated pottery, silo storage pits, bronze and flint. Most likely, the silo storage pits were used to store grain, barley, rice, and wheat that was grown and then uprooted for the people of the land. Also the silo storage pits probably were used for long term storage of the above material during times of famine. This culture lived from 111-11 millennium B.C. In addition to this display, if you look directly to your left, a detailed model of the Ather Thu Rasm Fam temple sits propped up on a showcase table. Also, within the pre Islamic section, artifacts from the Kingdom of Hadhramaut are displayed.

Kingdom of Hadhramaut
Presently, Hadhramaut is a province in the Republic of Yemen, and it is frequented by numerous expatriates and Yemeni citizens alike. It is famous for its delicious and expensive honey, and presently it is a popular tourist attraction in Yemen. But, prior to the unification of Yemen, prior to the many different rulers that followed, Hadhramaut was a kingdom that represented itself. Within the National Museum, visitors learn about the rich culture of Yemen through its artifacts. Speaking of artifacts, a collection of granite stone statues of various human heads sit on wooden pedestals for museum guest to admire.
The stone heads are in a wooden display case with a translucent glass like wall placed in front of it. Also, the Kingdom of Sheba hall has a limestone sacrificial table used by the people of the Sheba period to offer animal sacrifices to the god Al Maqah. The front of the limestone table is adorned with twin like limestone statues of two bull heads with a drainage channels carved in the middle of each head. These channels were used to drain the blood of the sacrificial animal. “The Sheba Makrab used to have both the spiritual and earthly powers of the priesthood and kingdom…” because they were considered decedents of gods. “The king is but the first born child of the gods,” reads the historical plaque. It is interesting to know that Yemen's history is similar to some westernized history in the fact that people here in Yemen also believed in multiple gods. This is a primary indication that polytheism has been around since the beginning of time, and during different times in history polytheism had its roots firmly planted in the minds of the people. When I realize this fact, I am aware that the Quran is correct when Allah talks about the wide spread ignorance of the people. In the past, many people did not know who to worship, and it was not until the Quran came that this ignorance was confronted with truth about Allah. With that in mind, I can understand why it was important to maintain the holy books of Allah. Daood bin Benia was famous for this.
Gallery President of the Republic
When I walk into the Gallery President of the Republic, there is a large Hebrew scripted book incased in a protective iron table, covered by a translucent glass firmly affixed to the iron legs of the table. This book was “copied in 1485 by the writer and great artist Daood bin Benia, an offspring of the family of writers that had gained an international fame. Both male and female members of this family were in the occupation of copying the holy books,” according to the explanatory plaque adjacent to the book. As you can probably tell, this pre-Islamic section is pretty huge, and to fully grasp the entirety of Yemen history you must walk through every show room. Next, came the Kingdom of Main.

Kingdom on Ma’in
In this particular section we have many figurines of bulls, cats, cows, camels, and horses made of limestone and marble. Directly to the right are two stone tablets affixed to the brick wall of the room. The first limestone tablet is divided into scenes of a camel and a rider. “Two lines of Musnad script are on the upper side of the marble.”The informative plaque pertaining to the Kingdom of Ma’in tells us that the people of this period were known for their elaborate construction of various irrigation systems. Apparently, the Ma’in people would construct various irrigation systems to transport potable water from the mountainous areas and remote areas to different villages and other populated areas of the kingdom. “This civilization came into being between early 600 to 200 B.C.” The capital city was named Qarnao, and apparently high brick walls encased the city for protection against invasions and hostile tribal wars. Outside of the metropolitan area of the capital Qarnao, the grand temple Rasfum was constructed. The kingdom was ruled by various dynasties. The reign of the leaders was marked by the implementation of distinctive religions and it was understood that the ruler was the provider of the people. Furthermore, the economic backbone of the country comprised of the “export of southern products to foreign markets,” according to the explanatory plaque accompanying this section. Apparently, the Kingdom of Ma’in was managed by distinctive levels of governmental rule ranging from the prominent position of king, to the mayoral position of various tribal chieftains. Depending upon the governmental position one held, they would managed over the daily task of taxation, the implementation of public policy, and issues of warfare. Praises due to Allah, my guide and I are now finished viewing this section, and now I want to walk upstairs to the Islamic Section.

Islamic Section
As I stand in front of the entrance way to the Islamic section, the museum guide inserts her iron key into the thick wooded door. She slowly pulls the unlocked castle like door to unveil three large stone tablets scripted with the holy Quran immaculately displayed on a beautiful maroon wooden case for tourist to admire. Also, “A cote of male armor, which fighters used for protection, stands propped up on a manikin. The dome shaped helmet is beautifully engraved with the phrase “Commander of the faithful.” Directly to the right, an assortment of muskets placed in a decorative circular style with the two hand guns painted with colorful circular shapes in the center are affixed to the showcase wall.

Many of the muskets are adorned with small orange, yellow, or even silver, bronze, or gold circular plates. Furthermore, “A collection of Arab guns decorated in silver and brass,” originates from 18th to 19th century A.D. sits in a case for viewers to see. Across from the gun case is an immaculate display of iron cast swords, and long wooden spears capped with a bronze and silver blade. This is the last of the museum exhibits, so now it is time for me to leave.

My tired museum guide and I slowly walk down the stone tablet stairs, and eventually we make it past the bronze statues of the father and son ruler. I say, "Peace to you, and the mercy of Allah," to my museum guide. I leave the museum guide behind, and once again I am on the streets of Sanaa. But this time, I am more cultured and my knowledge about Yemen has a greater depth to it.