Delegation brings resources, expertise Canadian doctors offer a helping hand for the 12th year [Archives:2003/05/Health]

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

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