Yaser Mohammed Ahmed
Yemen Times
The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development and Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry held in Sana’a on November 9, a seminar on fighting geological pollution of lake and dam waters in Arab Countries.

One of those papers was titled “Fundamentals And Methods Of Evaluating Environmental Impact Resulting From Pollution Of Lake And Dam Water”. The researcher defined pollution as being strange substances found in any of environmental components and make it unfit for use. Pollution is divided into two types: 1) harmful pollution that is so clear that it reaches a level of severe recognizable results, 2) and harmless contamination that is not always clear. He defines pollutants as substances or microbes or harmful radium that cause living things diseases or lead to their death. He surveyed the types of environmental pollution: air pollution, soil pollution, food pollution, thermal pollution, noise pollution and radium pollution. The researcher also explored the main factors that lead to water pollution among which are: intense population, abundant manufacturing establishments, technological industrial developments, agriculture, medicine and other sciences. Furthermore, he reviewed the effects of lakes and dams in the Arab countries. These are: 1) the natural lakes or seas, 2) the man-made lakes or dams built on the river course, 3) lakes or dams built by man to store seasonal rain water. He indicated that pollution of lake or dam water has negative effects on the environment: affecting the chemical, natural and biological characteristics of the soil, affecting the surface, underground water, man and animal as well.
The researcher also reviewed ways of assessing environmental impact by which he meant the practical procedures that are designed to assess the environmental impact of any development activity on man. The results are then interpreted and information about the impact is exchanged. The environmental impact assessment is a significant part of environmental planning, legislation, policies, and programs. The environmental impact may include an assessment or judgment on those changes that might be useful for some people but harmful to others.

In his working paper “Policies and Legislations Necessary for Preserving Quality of Dam and Lake Water and Consolidating the Role of its Users’ in Fighting Pollution in the Country”, Dr. Yousof Ahmed Fare’, consultant of Water Resources, focused on the main steps for any water policy, its starting points, factors and preserving water. The paper focused on the objectives of water legislations that are: preserving and developing water resources, organizing and making the best use of investment in this field. Furthermore, the paper explained that water pollution occurs in two ways. First, it occurs qualitatively, in the form of chemical or biological or radium pollution. This is evident by the fact that water becomes unfit for human consumption or for other uses. Second, quantitatively, in the form of drainage of water resources. Dr. Yousof said that people must cooperate in preserving water in dams and lakes and in protecting it against pollution.

Dr. Ma’touq Hasan Saleh Al-Rumaimi, specialist in biological toxicology and dangerous wastes, said that the entire human kind is threatened by running out of water and this obliges us to carry out researches on preserving every drop of water and on preserving man’s health and pure environment. It has been proved that water pollution was caused by entire humanity, particularly in big cities. He discussed the natural biological contaminants that come from the environment itself like harmful insects, bacteria, viruses that cause biological contamination to air, water and soil. He highlighted the harms done like: 1) Salmonella, 2) Shigella, 3)Vibriocholerae, 4) Leptospira. Dr. Ma’touq also pointed out that viruses cause water pollution and Hepatitis. He reviewed the main resources of water pollution, solutions and manipulation.

Dr. Muhamed Al-Rohani,
National Coordinator of Nephrology
In your newspaper YEMEN TIMES October 23rd 2000, you published a report titled “Hodeidah Kidney Dialysis Center, Poor Abilities & Negligence”
Here l want to clarify some facts about the role of Ministry of Health (MOH). Since 1993 the MOH supported the center to the extent of 6 millions per year, while charity and Businessmen virtually supported the center. Since June 2000, this center has been totally adopted by MOH by contract with one of the most famous companies Fresenius. The supplies include new water treatment and new dialysis machines resulting in the number of machines increasing by 100%. These equipment cost two hundred thousand USD (200,000 USD). This was completed in 7800 sessions of dialysis per year cost of each of which is 33 USD excluding other services like water and electricity supply, and salaries of the staff with overtime payments. The center with these facilities is 80–90 patients.
The same condition is with Aden Dialysis Center. Where the MOH have opened and control the center by a contract with the another famous company Gambro. Now the MOH has increased the number of sessions to 5000 (33 USD per each) and going to add more new dialysis machines. Here also we have to consider costs of other services as electricity water supply and salaries of the stuff. The number of dialysis sessions is going to increase gradually with the increase to the number of patients.
However, the MOH is not satisfied and is planing to add more centers in Ibb and Seyoen region.
This high technology treatment method is available free to all patients as it is the conditions in the Golf countries and we undertake this as duty of MOH. By sample calculation one session is calculated to cost more then 40 USD.
However we are still trying to improve this service in the all above-mentioned centers.

Publication of this reply without modification in your trusted news paper will highlight the points neglected in the your published report.

OPHTHALMIC EDUCATION (16)
What is Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?
Retinitis pigmentosa is the name given to a group of hereditary eye disorders. These disorders affect the retina, which is the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. In RP, sight loss is gradual but progressive.

What is the retina?
The retina in your eyes serves a similar purpose to a film inside a camera.

What causes Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?
There are different inherited defects that cause RP. In all cases, the ability of the retina to respond to light is affected.

What are the symptoms of RP?
•Difficulty in seeing at night is the most common symptom. The patient has difficulty in seeing outdoors at dusk or in a poorly lit room.
•Reduction of the visual field is the second symptom. The sight is lost from the sides or from above or below. This is often referred as tunnel vision.
•Sometimes the central vision may be lost.

The condition is usually progressive, but the speed at which deterioration takes place varies from one person to another.

Is there any treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa?
Until now there is no treatment for this disease. Some advice taking vitamin A to improve the function of the retina but that has not been proved. The only thing that these patients can do is to visit their eye doctor regularly.

There is a lot of research going on to find out the genes and the treatment for the above disease and there is hope to understand it thoroughly and then treating it effectively.

Certain eye doctors prescribe these patients to undergo operation to improve the circulation of the retina but that has not been proved to be effective or even of any value.

Advice to patients affected with Retinitis Pigmentosa:
1.If the disease has been diagnosed in a child it is advisable to put them in the right school which is suitable for them.
2.If the disease is diagnosed in the elderly it is advisable for them to stop driving especially at night.
3.If the disease is diagnosed in a member of a family it is better for the family not to marry between relatives.

REMEMBER:
•Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary eye disorder
•Difficulty in seeing in poor light is the most common symptom of RP
•The disease is common in Yemen because of marriage between relatives

Routine eye exam by an eye specialist is very important. It is your sight and your eyes need every care they deserve

Reference: PAACO educational leaflets, Cairo.
Mahfouth A Bamashmus FRCSEd, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Ibn Al-Haitham Clinic
University of Science & Technology, Sana’a