Battling Cancer in Yemen; Continuous Challenges

Hanan Hussein – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

The whimpers and cries of children, the rows of chairs filled with patients waiting for their names to be called to see a specialist, the laboratory window visited by many taking samples and receiving results, and the pharmacy window where a pharmacist dispenses free medication based on a prescription signed and stamped by the specialist doctor—amidst deep prayers muttered by patients for their medicine. This is a description of a poignant human scene reflecting the difficult reality faced by cancer patients in some health centers or hospitals in Yemen.

This scene directly reflects the challenges faced by cancer patients and the healthcare system in general amidst the crises facing the country, including lack of funding and insufficient support from international and local organizations. It also reflects the strength of hope and faith among patients and their families; the prayers and waiting represent a moment of hope for pain relief and healing.

On the Brink of Life

Regarding the difficulties facing cancer centers, a worker at a cancer treatment center (who preferred not to be named) says: “We have a shortage of the necessary medicines and treatments, while many cases come seeking these medicines. As a result of this shortage, we face a multiple increase in cases due to a lack of early treatment, which is an extremely difficult challenge.”

He adds: “The center also lacks diagnostic equipment for accurate detection of cases; the existing equipment needs maintenance. There is also a shortage of inpatient rooms and beds, and an inability to accommodate many cases. It is no secret that there is a shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals to treat this disease, for both adults and children, as well as specialists in radiation therapy.”

In the same context, Muhammad Al-Haj, head of public relations at the National Cancer Foundation, says: “There is a lack of resources within facilities specializing in the treatment of cancer patients. The issue of cancer patients has not yet been included in the programs of the United Nations and other supporting bodies. This is one of the difficulties faced by all those providing treatment services for cancer patients in Yemen.”

He adds: “Among the most prominent challenges facing government and private medical facilities is the lack of some medications and the rarity of oncology specialization. The impact of not finding solutions to these challenges is directly evident, including cases of death.”

Muhammad Al-Haj emphasizes that there are challenges facing cancer patients, including their difficult financial situations. If well-off cancer patients suffer from poor services, what about the poor who cannot access even the most basic services? Cancer patients need continuous and very expensive services, despite the existence of some centers that provide free services, such as the National Cancer Control Foundation, the Oncology Center, and the Cancer Control Fund, each according to its available resources.

Soaring Prices

Dr. Saeed Nu’man (oncology specialist) explains that there are difficulties facing centers specializing in cancer treatment, including the difficulty of enduring the length of treatment and its long therapeutic steps, in addition to the inability to afford the costs of medication, examinations, and radiation, as well as the financial burden and the lack of psychological, community, and government support.

He adds: “There is a lack of targeted and biological treatments with an effectiveness rate of 100% and a lack of sufficient operating budget for the effort exerted. Specialists are unable to keep up with developments in their field due to their preoccupation with making a living, especially since their salaries are low compared to the effort and dedication, they provide to cancer patients.”

He continues: “There are also obstacles facing cancer centers, including the lack of continuous and regular chemotherapy, the shortage or lack of analytical materials and free blood tests for patients, and the lack of advanced and sophisticated tests that help in choosing the type of treatment. If these tests exist in private laboratories, they are extremely expensive.”

Regarding the experience of 12-year-old Nasr Muhammad, who came from Al-Hudaida city to receive healthcare, his older sister, who accompanies him, says: “He doesn’t stop moaning in pain due to a brain tumor he’s had for two years, and his father died five years ago. They are five siblings, and they have no source of income to treat Nasr.”

She adds: “I used to work at a school and pay as much as I could, but we are currently on leave, and there is no work. Therefore, we are unable to provide the cost of his treatment, as the price of a single dose can cost $400, and we are unable to afford this amount.”

Pesticides and Toxins; Causes and Reasons

Yemen has been experiencing armed conflicts for years, resulting in the deaths of 233,000 people. 80% of the population, approximately 30 million, rely on aid and support, facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to UN reports. This is according to a statement by Muhammad Al-Haj, who explains that the most prominent cause of cancer spread is smuggled pesticides, along with other factors.

He suggested ways to prevent its spread, stating: “We stand here to solve the problem, which is controlling industry in all its forms, preventing the entry of internationally banned pesticides, which are a major cause of cancer, as well as good nutrition and exercise, in addition to abstaining from chewing qat, laziness, and smoking, so that we can reach safety.”

He continues: “According to a World Health Organization report, the number of cases is frightening; thirty thousand new cases are detected annually, a terrifying number that requires more effort, cooperation, awareness, and control over all causes of cancer from the relevant authorities and society, and raising community awareness.”

Hamid Al-Yad’i, head of the Cancer Patients Association, says: “There are many challenges affecting patients, including the lack of regular access to medicines, as well as the absence of other services, such as radiation, surgeries, and chemotherapy doses, in addition to the lack of radioactive iodine treatment, the lack of a nuclear scanning device, the lack of appropriate infrastructure for tumors, and the terrifying increase in the number of patients due to conflicts, which constitutes an obstacle to services.”

The Evil Eye and Black Magic as a Cause

In some cases, incurable diseases have been linked to the evil eye and witchcraft. Many Yemenis believe that the evil eye and envy affect their lives and health. We interviewed Shaikh Muhammad Ali, a religious reciter, to discuss the extent of the impact of the evil eye, witchcraft, and envy on cancer and incurable diseases.

Shaikh Muhammad said: “We cannot deny that the evil eye has a right over us and that it affects a person in all the details of his life, whether in his soul, body, or wealth, and if something preceded destiny, the evil eye would have preceded it. We have encountered many cases suffering from diseases that medicine and its drugs could not cure, and when we continued reading the Quran and adhering to Ruqya (Islamic healing), they improved, and this is what we witnessed with our own eyes, and no one can deny it.”

He continues: “Black magic and the evil eye may have an effect on the patient, but the reciter must be able to distinguish the cause of the illness; is it organic or psychological? The patient should go to hospitals and have an organic examination so that the problems do not worsen.”

From a scientific and psychological perspective, psychologist Muhammad Omar says: “Some studies have proven that there are supernatural phenomena and that the mind has strange and wonderful powerful abilities that may attract illnesses merely by believing that you will get sick because of the evil eye or envy of someone. In my opinion as a psychologist, I see that our religion has clarified the matter completely; it has been stated that a person is entrusted with what he expects, unlike what is circulated about energy science and attraction, etc. Fully aware psychologists have talked about believing in something and attracting it and about the abilities of the mind and subconscious in achieving what the individual expects.”

He stresses the importance of each person maintaining their health, and as soon as they feel tired and weak, they should go for a checkup at the clinic, instead of imagining and waiting for the pain to go away simply by going to sorcerers or folk healers. There are Shaikhs and spiritualists who may mislead people with many false myths for material purposes.

Treatment and Proposals

The proposals and treatments from the point of view of oncology specialist Saeed Nu’man are to find an operating budget, pay salaries to cadres that enable them to treat the disease and keep up with developments in their field, and repair equipment, examinations, and treatment methods.

He adds: “Cancer patients must be supported and their medical, physical, psychological, material and living suffering must be alleviated, and all segments of society – governmental and private – must be cared for by charitable societies, businessmen, civil society organizations, etc. in supporting tumor centers and cancer patients, as well as facilitating access to chemotherapy, radiation, medicines, and medical supplies smoothly and reducing taxes on them.”

Specialists and doctors believe that it is necessary to pool efforts from organizations and specialized bodies to provide medicines and medical supplies, as well as support health facilities by providing the necessary funding for their operation and maintenance, in addition to providing psychological support programs for patients and their families. Many also emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the necessity of early detection of cancer and undergoing treatment early.

The question arises: Is it possible to stop the conflict, achieve stability, and provide a safe environment so that society can enjoy peace, and the patient can find the time and space to pursue their treatment safely and securely?