In brief [Archives:2007/1096/Local News]

1.5 percent of Yemenis suffer eye disease

Oct. 21 ) Approximately 1.5 percent of Yemen's overall population suffers eye diseases, Minister of Public Health and Population Abdul Kareem Rasa' said Saturday in a celebration marking World Sight Day held at WHO's regional office in Cairo.

“More than 150,000 Yemenis become infected with [leukocoria or] 'white pupil' annually,” he added. He alluded to the extreme shortage of eye doctors in Yemen, appealing for further cooperation between his ministry and WHO to manage the problem.

The minister also highlighted the economic, health and social impacts due to problems associated with eye disease and blindness in Yemen.

Rasa' met with representatives of the Arab Doctors' Union to discuss aspects of cooperation between his ministry and the union in combating blindness, beginning with dispatching medical teams to perform 2,000 eye surgeries nationwide.

Arab atomic energy conference preparatory meeting kicks off

Oct. 21 ) Under the title, “A Special Look at Generating Electricity via Nuclear Power,” the three-day preparatory meeting of the Arab Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy commenced under Chairman Mustafa Baharan, minister of Electricity and Energy and head of Yemen's National Atomic Energy Commission.

Mahmoud Nasr Al-Din, director general of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency, noted the importance of expanding the participation of various governmental and non-governmental authorities at the symposium being organized by the agency in Cairo during the first half of 2008.

Yemen to host international conference on intellectual property

Oct. 21 ) Yemen's Information Ministry has begun preparing to host an international conference on protecting intellectual property in Sana'a at the beginning of next month November, Abdulmalik Al-Qutaa, director general of Compilations and Intellectual Property at the ministry, said Saturday.

Representatives of more than 35 Arab, Asian and African nations are expected to attend the conference, which will discuss numerous issues related to intellectual property regarding popular heritage, folklore and professions, in addition to legal concepts regarding inherited sources and traditional knowledge, folklore and future policies for preparing for effective plans to protect such sources.

ADEN

Qatar finances orphanage

Oct. 21 ) Qatar Orphan House (QOH) in Aden initiated the project's YR 70 million first phase of setting up, possibly completing it by the beginning of 2008, an official source stated.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayri, director general of QOH in Aden, noted that the project, financed by Qatar's Islamic Daawa Organization, began a year ago on an area 13,000 square meters and including housing for 40 female orphans. Additionally, he indicated that phases two and three will include housing for 40 male orphans as well as a primary school.

Al-Tayri pointed out that last year, QOH built more than 20 mosques in Aden, cared for 220 orphans and distributed water refrigerators and wheelchairs to the disabled.

SANA'A

Yemeni-Sudanese academic and security cooperation to be improved

Oct. 21 ) Ali Al-Sharafi, dean of the Higher Studies College and an official at the Interior Ministry's Police Academy, held talks on Saturday with Taj-al-Sir Badawi, head teacher at Sudan's Higher Security Academy of Sudan, regarding scientific, security and academic cooperation between the two countries and how to strengthen and develop them.

The Sudanese official became acquainted with the various activities of Yemen's Police Academy, as well as reviewing the work process of Sudan's Higher Security Academy.
——
[archive-e:1096-v:15-y:2007-d:2007-10-22-p:ln]