“A major obstacle we face is that cancer patients usually come when it’s too late to be cured and that’s because people don’t have enough awareness about the dangers of the sickness. It is always easier to help the patients in the beginning  stages of the cancer, rather than after its spread in the body.”

Yemen Post: How do you evaluate the National Cancer Control Foundation’s work over the last year?

Ali Al-Kholani: I believe that the foundation has presented many special services around the country. It also with the cooperation of the ministry of health established the first center to cure tumors as well as establishing other units to cure tumors in Ibb, Hodiedah, and Aden governorates. 

YP: What is the foundation clinical absorptive capacity?

AK: We have 72 beds in Aden, 15 beds in Ibb, 13 beds in Hodiedah, and 42 beds in Sana’a.

YP: But more than 22,000 people have cancer in Yemen, which means that the service your foundation offers is basically very small?

AK: Unfortunately we have only one specialized center for curing cancer now, but we are growing quick.

YP: So what is the solution, and how can we fight cancer in Yemen?

AK: The solution is to build more centers and increase the support given to the foundation. Our goal is to establish five massive centers in the country.

YP: The foundation has a lot of support and can do it without the help of the government?

AK: To be honest, the support given to the foundation is not enough. It is not even enough to cover the value of treatment given to patients. Moreover, the operating expenses of these centers and units are costly. Therefore, we need support from countries in the region, because we are a poor country. 

YP:  Does the government help the foundation?

AK: Yes

YP: Can you give me a percentage of the government’s support to the foundation?

AK: It depends. For example, the cancer center in Sana’a is completely supported by the ministry of health. They give us the space to put the patients and some medical equipment. 

YP: You talked about space to put your patients, but do you receive financial support from the government?

AK: Yes, and we use it to run the other treatment units in the governorates. 

YP: Is the cancer treatment free for all patients?

AK: Yes, it is completely free including the accommodation in the center or the unit for cases which require that. Moreover, in some cases we offer poor patients different kinds of foodstuff which are given by businessmen and also transportation and accommodation expenses.

YP: What is the most class from society that comes to the foundation?

AK: In most cases the poor. They are the largest class in society who has cancer. The problem is that most patients come to us after they sell everything they have, and then they are left with no home to live or food to eat. 

YP: How many cases have been received by the foundation until now?

AK: More than 7000 cases have been received by the foundation including men, women, and children from around the country.

YP: Many cancer patients who traveled outside Yemen for treatment complain that there are no trusted doctors in Yemen. Do you agree with that?

AK: I am against this point of view and the reason is that we have an excellent team which we are proud of, and many international delegations testified their high capabilities.   

YP: Does the foundation provide high quality medicine to the patients, or do they offer cheap quality medicine?

AK: All our medicine comes from famous and international medicine companies. We only offer our patients the best.

YP: Some people say that your medicine is old and that is the reason why it is given to patients for free?

AK: We understand how important it is to provide the best and the highest quality of medicine and all our medicine comes from trusted companies. 

YP: What are the biggest causes for the spread of cancer in Yemen?

AK: First, the usage of the pesticides which are smuggled into Yemen illegally by people who are in power and have authority in the country. The problem is that most of these pesticides are forbidden internationally and here in Yemen they use it for Qat and even for vegetables and therefore, the most common of all cancer cases in Yemen is head cancer.

YP: What about smoking?

AK: Sure. It causes lung cancer, but the pesticides that come to Yemen takes first place in the cause of cancer in the country.

YP: Comparing to the number of head and lungs cancer cases, which is more in Yemen?

AK: In Yemen, the highest percentage of cancer cases is the head cancer and it is also caused by Qat and Shamma. 

YP: Is there any coordination between the foundation and foreign authorities to send difficult cases to be cured outside Yemen?

AK: Until now we have limited coordination, but we are looking forward to enhance our foreign relations. Foreign authorities give support to Yemen, but all the treatment scholarships that are offered directly to the government.

YP: Who is the primary financial supporter for the foundation besides donations?

AK: There are many people who support us, and the government also donates hundreds of millions of YR.

YP: Could you name some of the businessmen who support the foundation?

AK: Hael Sa’eed Group, Ba Zara’a Group, Hassan Al-Kaboos, Mahfoz Shammak, Al-Motareb among others. 

YP: Is the support from the businessmen you mentioned continuous or only when they are asked to give?

AK: We collect the financial support in two ways: The first through monthly subscriptions from businessmen and the other is through the yearly donation project. We collect donations from people throughout the country. Also, I want to mention that in November the biggest international conference for cancer will take place and Yemen has been chosen to hold it.

YP: Does the foundation receive any foreign funding?

AK: Yes, but we don’t count on it because it’s very little.

YP: Do you have any statistics that show what places in Yemen are the most affected by cancer?

AK: Statistics show that the capital has the highest number of cancer cases then Taiz followed by Ibb than Hodiedah and the other governorates.

YP: You pointed out in many occasions that you are planning to create a cancer registry for records in Yemen. What is the benefit of having such records?

AK: It is an international system done by associations and civil society organizations. The benefit of this project is that we would know if the cancer was the cause of death if someone died or if it was other reasons. That would help us have a clear vision for the future. We also have the national strategy which we presented to the ministry of health and delegations from other countries like Vienna and UNICEF admired it, and it will soon be applied.

YP: Comparing Yemen to its neighbors, why does Yemen have the highest number of cancer cases?

AK: It’s because of the use of pesticides and Shamma as well as spoiled canned food. They are a big reason for the growth of cancer in Yemen.

YP: Do you take the government responsible because they don’t do their duty in limiting pesticides?

AK: I think it is not the government's responsibility only. Citizens and businessmen are also responsible. The farmer for example uses the pesticide even though he knows its harms. The government is responsible for allowing corrupt businessmen to enter such harmful things to the country instead of punishing them. 

YP: What are the biggest obstacles you face in your work?

AK: The biggest obstacles are that our capacity is limited. We have financial obstacles to create new centers. As I told you at the beginning, we have 6 centers or units in the governorates and these centers need a lot of money to run. A major obstacle we face is that cancer patients usually come when it’s too late to be cured and that’s because people don’t have enough awareness about the dangers of the sickness. It is always easier to help the patients in the beginning stages of the cancer, rather than after its spread in the body. Therefore I call on all media outlets through Yemen Post to help us in spreading the importance of early diagnosis for the sickness.

YP: The awareness campaigns which are done by the foundation don’t reach the majority of people in Yemen especially people in villages. Why don’t you use the official media to reach more people?

AK: We have good communication with the official media and honestly they help us in publishing many things concerning our work.

YP: The preacher Amr Khaled and the singer Sami Yousif said they are interested in helping your foundation through holding activities in Yemen soon. Is there a specific date for these activities in the near future?

AK: Yes, and in the next couple of months. We have not fixed the exact dates because they are still busy with other activities in other countries but they promised us to come soon. 

YP: Also the Syrian singer Asala Nasri donated 7000 dollar when she visited the foundation. Why don’t we hear about Yemeni preachers or artists who donate or have activities to support the foundation?

AK: We wish that every Yemeni could do something and support the foundation as well as artists, signers and everyone who has a mission in life. I still call on preachers specifically because they are the people who god offered them the knowledge and I ask them to call on people to help their sick brothers who are suffering of cancer.

YP: Do you have any final comments?

AK: I call everybody to support cancer patients and stand by them. Until now we don’t have a special center for children which is considered as a real tragedy. Thank you.