The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday (May 7th) announced it has delivered more than seven tonnes of life-saving anti-cancer medicines and chemotherapy medications to Yemen’s National Oncology Centre in Sanaa.
The anti-cancer medicines, funded by the World Bank and Germany, will cover the acute shortages of medicines for cancer patients for one year, the WHO said.
Since 2005, more than 60,000 cancer patients from all over Yemen — 12% of whom are children — have received treatment at the National Oncology Centre.
An estimated 30,000 cancer patients are still in dire need of active treatment, in the form of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal treatment or palliative treatment.
In addition to facing a shortage of medicines and operating funds, professional oncologists and other medical staff have left the country due to the ongoing conflict. Unpaid health care worker salaries and the deteriorating economic situation also have contributed to the resource drain.
"The health challenges are tremendous. We have managed to bring in this shipment despite logistical constraints and the ongoing conflict that threaten our supplies on a regular basis," said WHO representative to Yemen Nevio Zagaria.
"The crisis prolongs the suffering of the Yemeni people, who are sick and dying from preventable diseases. This is unacceptable. We need to do more to ensure that everyone has access to essential health care," Zagaria said.
