Armies of Liberation

Crowded dialysis centers, kindey transplant unavailable:

YO: Cancer is a misfortune, but kidney failure is a double misfortunes. It is actually the illness that makes victims forget all worldly essentials behind them and wait for every Sunday or every Thursday to hopefully extend their life one more week.

And so the patients live on high alert with one every-moment dread and concern about their weekly deadlines for renal clean-up if they actually fail to meet a deadline die.

Yemen is one of the countries where renal failure is a widespread disease, though no precise figures on the cases in Yemen are available. Al-Thawra Public Hospital is nearly Yemen’s best hospital and the only hospital that offers a subsidized service of hemodialysis.

Mohammed Showee, a father of three, has a kidney failure that happened to him before two years. “Every week, I fear of missing the deadline due to crowdedness in the hemodialysis center.” Although, he undergoes the blood filtering process for free of charge, he tells tragic tales of kidney failure as an illness in Yemen. He said that many people in other hospitals die as they are standing in the queues for the dialyzer.”
“The dialyzer connects to a machine. During treatment, my blood travels through tubes into the dialyzer which, in turn, filters out wastes and extra fluids. Then the newly cleaned blood flows through other tubes back to my body,” he says as his own words chill his spine.
“Fine, this is the only possible common treatment. It is a weekly obligatory practice for the patients to extend their lives one week more or five days more. But at least, there should be enough centers that offer the hemodialysis service and reduce the fatalities”.

“Why do so large number of people still need to go abroad for kidney transplant. Why shouldn’t be large scale kidney transplant service in Yemen,” he asks. “Millions of dollars will be saved.”
Showee said he read in one of the newspapers a tragic story of the life of one man whom kidney failure cost him and arm and a leg. The story he says, is: “some named Mohammed al-Showafi, a 27-year-old father of three found – five months ago – that he has kidney failure, all of a sudden and felt dying of the related pain. He had to sell his car – his only means of income, and the jewelries of his wife all making up to $7000. But then he left to India in the company of two relatives hoping that he would have a kidney donated from either of them.

However, the Indian doctors found neither of the two willing donors had a good match kidney that fits into his body. He came back to Yemen with half of the 7000 dollars used up in travel and lodging and other essential costs. And to his bad luck, it was banned at that time for Indian citizens to sell kidneys and for a kidney donation, the patient has to be someone who has been in India for one year.
Now he is with half of the amount that hardly managed to make. And he is intending to travel to Pakistan where the Yemeni embassy is supposed to receive him, reserve a hospital seat for him and find a donor. However, the kidney transplant in Pakistan costs 14000 dollars. I just don’t know how he is he going to manage.”

Showee says that “kidney transplant, the breakthrough in the treatment of renal failure, kidney transplant, is highly expensive although it was first started in the middle of the 19th century”. “For people with income like the average Yemeni people, it costs you a fortune. You sell all the valuable assets that you have in order to have such a treatment. Many people sell their houses, cars or lands. It is pity. For many kidney failure patients, the travel abroad per se is not easily affordable. Tickets are very costly for them. And when they come to find that they have the calamity of such an illness that requires treatment abroad, they sell all their valuable assets.

I believe the government must offer substantial amount of financial aid for the kidney failure patients and their families. A large number of people who are suffering from kidney stones but because of lack of money don’t even dare to go any hospital. They keep waiting and bearing the pain for years with their full knowledge that the stones in their kidneys expand further and further and they are going to have kidney failure. But they can do nothing. They are impoverished”.
Ayesh al-Hammami is almost a 31-year-old illiterate person who tried to commit suicide more than one time because he is seeing that he is going to have a slow and agonic death by kidney failure. His last self-suicide attempt was two months ago.

Hammami who doesn’t know what a journalist means as I tell him I am a journalist said he will try suicide again “I will hopefully do it successfully next time”. I really expect him to do it again, his last attempt was a frightening cut in his hand. Al-Hammami is a man who lives on massage as a profession he practices in a Turkish-style steam bath. He massages people and earns an average of 500 rials (less than three dollars) a day.
Three years ago, his father almost renounced him and being uneducated, he could only work as a masseur, a job that requires no skills. This man, after deciding to move to Sana’a to work suffered severe kidney pain. Many times, he would come back from work crying and lie down screaming and rolling in the floor of his small dark room. That was out of pain. The stones kept agonizing him frequently for one year and a half. After that one year and a half he had 100,000 rials (almost $550) saved. He went to one of the private hospitals to have what he says “a laser removal” of the stones. After a one-week surgery he complained that urinating is hard and painful for him.

He went for a screening and it was found that the stones are still there, which means only very tiny fragments of them were destroyed. Because, he doesn’t know what to do, he said he can’t argue in the hospital or the police station to get the operation carried out again for free or get compensation. Now, the stones are big again and the right kidney, the previously healthy one, has a stone as well and he is being agonized every night again. His already poor income has lowered and he predicts that “I’m going to die soon of the stones.” He says that “doctors tell me that I am about to have a kidney failure soon if I don’t get the stones removed”. “As I can’t afford the cost of stones removal, I will surely die when I am required to have a hemodialysis every week.”. This is just one story that I, the writer of this report, found for myself.

Showee said one man with a kidney failure says he is indirectly a victim of Saddam’s ousted regime in Iraq. He said that he had a kidney failure while he was in Saudi Arabia.
But he would have a dialyzer thrice a week. “But as the Gulf War broke out and Yemeni immigrants had to come back home from the Gulf states, he began his tragic life. He could no longer have an opportunity in Yemen to have a hemodialysis thrice a week.”
Showee says the man became more gaunt and ailing as he came back from Saudi Arabia.

The good tiding in today’s world is that “If you have a chronic kidney failure, kidney transplantation may be the treatment option that allows you to live much like you lived before your kidneys failed. In contrast however, transplantation is not a cure, but an ongoing treatment that requires you taking medicines for the rest of your life,” says pharmacist Murtadha Mohammed. “This means that even a successful transplant doesn’t mean the patient regains his health totally. The fact that a patient needs to buy medicines for the rest of his life as a bribe for the immune system to not reject the donated kidney is a big burden. I believe those who had kidney transplants must have access to safe medicines to be imported and subsidized by government.”

Now its a little clearer how the LNG project would up inside a marine reserve and on the coastline of one of the world’s greatest coral reefs:

SANA’A – A project of the first animal sanctuary in the Arab peninsula set to be built in Hadhramout governorate has been scrapped by the Environment Authority of the United Arab Emirates. According to the Yemeni Green peace society, the UAE Environment Authority in cancelled the project after claims that the General Environment Authority in Yemen was corrupt.

The Green peace society said that the Yemeni Environment Authority had presented demands, including that money be paid for what it called “dignitaries and influential characters”, under the pretence of getting the support of them to ensure the success of the project. However, this made those involved doubt the credibility of the Environment Authority.

a huge issue, as is the confescation of and disputes over private land

SANA’A- Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Ali Hamoud Abbad has uncovered that some politicians are using their influence to illegally occupy or steal state land.

The minister urged the MPs to stop the practices, threatening that he will personally talk to these MPs if they do not back down from seizing the lands.
“If they don’t respond, we will talk to the presidency of the parliament to tackle the issue,” he said.
He cited a recent encroachment by judicial authorities over large pieces of land in Mualla in Aden, although the land is known and accredited to state land.

However, he admitted that he has no authority over the judicial authorities, which are independent.
A report said the State Lands and Properties Office is donating endowment lands to many government authorities.

The president of the Islah’s party in the parliament has demanded the resignation of the endowments ministry over what he called “the rise of encroachment over endowments lands since he took office”.

Well thats very good

SANA’A – A public works project in Yemen has been judged to be the third best in the world by the World Bank.
Yemen’s public works project was chosen as one of four of the “most successful projects across the world” according to the WB classification.
The Yemeni public works project was ranked third after Cambodia and Latvia, while Albania came fourth.

The Public Work’s Project was established in 1996 as part of the social security network, and started its activities in the beginning of 1997 when began its first phase, financed by the WB with a soft loan of US$25 million and US$3million by the Yemeni government.
The project focuses on implementing small projects that aim at employing unskilled labour, and aim at creating job opportunities to decrease unemployment.

At the same time the project aims at providing the essential services for citizens, especially in the remote areas.
The General Manager of the public works project Engineer Saeed Abdu Ahmad said that during the first phase of the project 435 projects were implemented in different Yemeni governorates.

He added that these projects provided 64,000 monthly job opportunities.
The evaluation of the project was based on field studies conducted by WB experts.

A team from the WB visited Yemen in 2004 and conducted an evaluation study for the performance of the project, which had completed its second phase at that time. The team were impressed by its success.
The WB then sent a second team in 2005 to evaluate the performance, again praising its success.

New Finance Minister says very logical things about tax reform: “Although gaining high tax revenues is the goal of the Tax Authority, the matter in practice is very different. Tax is not usually collected according to proportional tax system and the tax receptacle is not covered properly,” said al-Asali. (Also penalties: sometime, somewhere the notion of criminal prosecution for corruption has to come into play.)

Saleh cancels Aden Port deal with DPI, in response to Parliament and other objections. Gulf News calls it a renegotiation.

The first investment and HR development conference, sponsored by Gobari Investment Group, concludes today under the title, “Development and investment can only be realized by our own efforts.” Trade Minister who tried to cancel the conference last week does not attend.

European Commission: Yemen’s investment climate unhealthy.

New Minister of Planning: The statement from the ministry said that the meeting would be “different than others” as it would deal with serious directives of the government to combat corruption and enhancing reforms process in the country.

World Bank funds electricity project:

The World Bank 2005-05-23 approved a Credit to the Republic of Yemen for SDR35 million (US$50 million equivalent) to help finance the Power Sector Project. The objectives of the Project are to relieve critical power supply constraints and enhance the overall technical efficiency and quality of electricity supply by supporting the Republic of Yemen’s power sector reform initiatives and strengthening the sector’s corporate governance to improve the efficiency of the Public Electricity Corporation.

Yemen is the least electrified country in the MENA region, with only about 40% of the total population having access to electricity. In rural areas, the electrification rate is very low at only about 20%. More than half of the rural power supply comes from cooperatives, the private sector, and auto-generation, and not from the Government-owned Public Electricity Corporation system.

The low access and the absence of reliable electricity supply have been recognized as severe constraints to economic growth in Yemen, and to the achievement of the Government of Yemen’s poverty alleviation objectives. “Economic growth and a better quality of life for the Yemeni people will be realized with adequate access to reliable electricity services”, commented Somin Mukherji, Project Task Team Leader.

Ruling Party MP’s summon Finance Minster about currency fluxuations:

SANA’A- Members of Parliament have made urgent calls that Minister of Finance Dr. Saif Al-Asali appear before Parliament to explain the recent surge in the price of US dollar against the Yemeni rial. Last week, MPs criticized the “ignorance of the presidential board” for a request presented by Saleh Abu Adal and Abdul-Kareem Jadban, members of the GPC ruling party in the parliament, to summon the minister over a decrease in the exchange rate.

Nabeel Basha, an MP of the ruling party, asked presidency of the parliament to allocate a session to discuss the issue.
He said it was a key issue associated with the life of all citizens, and that Yemen does not have a currency rules policy.
Meanwhile, police arrested three groups of people on charges of forging Saudi and Yemeni currencies in different governorates.

According to security sources in Mukalla city in Hadhramout, police arrested and jailed one man for forging YR 30,000 rials. Investigations are continuing. In Abyan governorate, police arrested two men accused of selling and forging Saudi money. In Mahweet, 11 men were arrested on charges of forging Saudi money.

Yes, Parliament has a role in ensuring the conduct of the government on issues that effect the lives of all citizens.

Saudi Support: Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz is to approve new loans to impoverished Yemen of $160 million during a visit to the southern port of Mukalla on May 31, official media said.

YM: New Oil MInister embraces transparency. (Hopefully will give support to EITI which looks very good if everyone can get on board-ie, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative .)

Just spending millions of dollars right before the election, nice to have that old public budget to buy votes with. Ali Saleh continues his tour:

GHEIDHA, May 29(Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh inaugurated Monday in Mahra governorate the important strategic road which links
Saihootdistrict with Nashtoon district at a length of 162 km.
The cost of the project was estimated at Yrs 11.2 billion. The road connects the governorate with the other Yemeni governorates and Yemen
with theneighboring Arab countries via the coastline.
President Saleh also inaugurated Saihoot Fishery Company where he listened to a brief explanation of the contents of the company by its manager Mohammed Khaudam.
The project costs USD 1.5 million.
He also laid foundation stones for the projects of unloading station and marine cable affiliate in Gheidha, which connects Yemen with the
outsideworld by Filaj net at a cost of Yrs 3.5 billion.
President also inaugurated a station of Yemen Mobile in the governorate.

On this occasion, president expressed great pleasure for such significant achievements which Yemen witnesses in the era of the
Yemeni Unity.
He said that a large number of people would benefit from such strategic projects which help in raising the local and economic
development. He made it clear that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is working hard to improve the Yemeni economy in order to integrate with the Gulf region, saying that that Yemen is also aspiring to be
an active member in theGulf states.
He also paid visits to a number of districts in the governorate and listened to citizens needs and requirements.

How irresponsible and inept. Roads and employment opportunites are essential but where was all this money before, and how much of it is going to medical, education and water services, which are less visable, don’t require a cornerstone, but are very important to the lives of the citizens.

More: President Ali Abdullah has launched and laid foundation stones for 2730 service and investment projects worth YR283 billion in Hodeidah, as part of the celebrations of the16th anniversary of Yemen’s unification.

Financial statements required from public officials.
Three years in jail for making accusations of corruption without concrete proof.
Three years in jail for corruption.

Just another way to target the journalists, but how outrageous to make an equivalency between an unfounded statement and the theft of public funds. How does the rights of an individual outweigh so greatly the rights of society as a whole? And how does one make a case for corruption without starting from a position of less than concrete proof? This is just another layer of protection for corrupt public officials to continue their thievery without public scrutiny. The pretense that the regime has any respect for free speech is completely shot.

NY: The Yemeni Parliament started to discuss the law of financial liability that was submitted by the government to the Parliament that referred it to the Constitutional Committee in 16th April, 2005 for study.
The law aims to enhance trust between the State’s organs and people as it guarantees clear legal measures for protecting the public funds, safeguarding the public job and fighting illegal affluence, according to the Constitutional Committee.
The law will hold all who occupy a public post and decision-makers accountable for any financial and administrative failures.
According to committee, the law will be applied to the president, vice president, leadership and members of the Parliament, prime minister, premier deputies, ministers and their deputies, leadership and members of the Shura (consultative) council, chairman of the Supreme Commission for Elections ad Referendum and his deputy, chairman of presidency office, chairmen of local councils, rectors of universities, employees of the administrative organs, members of diplomatic corps, leaders and members of judiciary authority, the prosecution, military leaders, financial and accountant affairs general directors.
The law obligates those under accountability to submit financial quitclaims about their own possessions, the possessions of their wives and sons’ during 60 days since the law approval.
The law approved three years in jail for anybody offers statements about any illegal financial practices without concrete evidence and three years and fines against anyone of the so far responsible persons to be proved guilty by the auditing authority.
According to the law, anyone does not deliberately submit a financial liability statement, after notification, will be imprisoned six months and fined YR 50.

The part about holding public officials accountable of course is the essential component of reform, democratization and development. Lets see what Parliament thinks of that.

YT:

Public health ministry undersecretary Arwa al-Rabee stated that the rate of morality among mothers and children in Yemen reached 37.3 children and 66 mothers out of 1000 deliveries.
Al-Rabee said that the rate of mortality among children under five years reached 102 children out of 1000. “These rates are very high and need the care of all concerned,” said al-Rabee.

1997 infant mortality rates were 33.6/1000

With one out of ten kids dead by age 5, half of all the under five deaths can be attributed to dirty water, I think its 20% malaria and 30% diarrhea.

20% of infant mortality is caused by neonatal tenenus, preventable by a maternal vaccine and attention to umbilical cord cleanliness.

About 85% of all deliveries take place without medical assistance.

Also high rates of cerebral palsy, due to lack of oxygen at birth.

40% of the budget is spent on the military, with latest purchases including helicopters from the Chinese and Armored Personel Carriers from Pakistan.