Hammering Away at Diseases [Archives:2000/40/Health]

Yasser M. Ahmad,
Yemen Times
Many non-governmental organizations are to be found all over the world. These work in different spheres for the development of their societies.
In my opinion, health care organizations are the most important institutions because they have undertaken responsibility for caring for peoples health. Such organizations play an undeniable role in developing countries where diseases claim lives of countless people, specially of women and children.
In Yemen, there is a good number of international organizations working in different domains, but few of them offer health services. One of those outstanding health care organizations in Yemen is Hammer Forume. V.
Hammer Forume was established in 1990 and began working in Yemen seven years later.
Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-Zakhmi, chairman of the society in an interview to the Yemen Times said that the society offered health services in all cities and districts of the Republic. Many patients who badly required treatment abroad are taken to Germany under arrangement by the society.
In this regard, the society conducts a number of field surveys on all epidemic diseases and focuses on those people who can not afford treatment. Files of such patients are then sent to Germany and as soon as positive replies are received, traveling procedures are finalized by the society itself. Patients are always sent with representatives from the societys office in Sanaa.
The society receives cases including, congenial anomalies, Osteomyelitis, heart diseases and many others such as those related to malignant tumor in brain and spine.
In 1999, 85 patients were sent for treatment in Germany. During this year 78 patients have been sent so far for the same reasons, most of whom have returned in good health. Some patients need a long time of treatment, said chairman. For example, one of the patients spent more than 7 months with DM 3,000 daily expenses.
A senior delegation from the society headquarters in Germany visits Yemen biennially to do a number of operations and to participate in vaccination campaigns.
The society also provides some patients with drugs specially those scarcely found in local markets. Some patients families are even financially supported while patients are in Germany for treatment.
In addition, Hammer Forume supports a number of hospitals here such as Burns Center in Taiz and the Military Hospital in Sanaa.
An agreement has been reached between the societys representative and governor of Taiz to build a center for burns treatment in which the governor committed himself to provide the buildings while the society will provide necessary equipment and train the cadre. However, said Dr. Al-Zakhmi We have no idea whether the buildings are ready or not.
Coordination with the Ministry of health is unlikely to take place. Complicated routine has made many donors give up helping Yemen especially when they see that money donated is not spent through its proper channels, said Dr. Al-Zakhmi, let alone the Ministrys orders to send some patients, who can not be cured, abroad, he added.
Dr. Abbas Mohammed Al-Samawi, Head of Orthopedic Department in the Al-Jomhouri Hospital said that the chairman of the society visited the hospital requesting to be briefed on cases in the hospital. Some patients were then chosen to be taken to Germany for treatment. Moreover, a German professor visited the Orthopedic Department and carried on free of charge examinations for 30-50 patients a day.

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