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An important aspect of PACT's work is to assess a country's cancer burden and advise on strategies for the development of an effective national cancer control programme. In this context, a team from PACT and its interagency partners visited the Republic of Yemen from 1-4 July 2007 to review cancer control efforts currently underway and consider how best to advance the timetable.
The visit built on a preliminary review mission to Yemen in January 2006 and included a full schedule of meetings with top level government ministers and health officials. Expressing his support for cancer control in Yemen, Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi, Vice-president of the Republic, said: “Cancer is a scourge for Yemeni citizens, and its control is a top priority for the Government. IAEA has been assisting Yemen through its Technical Cooperation program for years and we now welcome the assistance of PACT in addressing the cancer issue in a comprehensive way.”
Ministers also underlined the need for an action plan with a specific timeline, to reduce the impact of cancer on Yemen's people and its economy in the shortest possible time.
Estimates suggest there are some 11,000 new cancer cases a year in this Middle Eastern country of 22 million. Among the most commonly found cancers in men are those of the digestive system and oral cavity and, in women, of the breast and digestive system. At present there is just one radiotherapy facility, at the National Oncology Centre in Sana'a, the capital city.
Many cancers in Yemen have been linked to the national habit of chewing qat — a flowering shrub whose leaves contain an amphetamine-like stimulant — possibly due to pesticides used to spray the plants. Qat consumption is so widespread in Yemen that 40% of the country's dwindling water supplies are used to irrigate the crops. Expressing the government's concern, Yemeni Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mansour A. Al-Howshabi, asked for the issue of qat to be addressed in the national cancer control strategy.
During the course of the visit, mission members gathered a wealth of information which will form the basis for recommendations for future action, in line with Ministry of Health priorities. These include the need for legislation regarding cancer registration and cancer prevention (especially in connection with qat, pesticides and tobacco), as well as the introduction of palliative care. At the same time, treatment capabilities could be greatly improved by the addition of a second cobalt radiotherapy machine at the National Oncology Centre, together with necessary protocols and guidelines for its use and maintenance. Development of Radiotherapy in other regions of the country should follow, for example the Technical Cooperation project in Aden.
In order to assist the Republic of Yemen formulate a detailed action plan for its cancer control strategy, a longer visit will have to be scheduled in the near future.
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