Under the patronage of Member of the Supreme Political Council Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, the Ministries of Public Health and Population and Justice convened a workshop on Wednesday morning, 5 Rabi’ al-Thani 1443 AH (corresponding to 2021/11/10), at the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Sana’a. The workshop focused on approving the draft defining the tasks of relevant entities to address the risks of thalassemia and hereditary hemolytic anemia.
At the opening of the workshop, His Excellency Dr. Taha Ahmed Al-Mutawakkil, Minister of Public Health and Population, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the serious impact of thalassemia and hereditary hemolytic anemia on society. He affirmed his ongoing commitment to this humanitarian cause and expressed his gratitude to the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Diseases for their dedication and tireless service to patients.
Dr. Al-Mutawakkil highlighted that there are approximately 40,000 patients suffering from hereditary hemolytic anemia in Yemen. He stressed that the ongoing war and blockade have exacerbated the suffering of thalassemia patients due to restricted access to medications and the difficulty in obtaining them. He confirmed that the ministry is working closely with the Society to secure these essential medicines for the patients.
Member of the Supreme Political Council emphasized the necessity of conducting premarital medical screening for all individuals, not only relatives, to prevent the spread of this disease. He warned of the future suffering and high costs associated with purchasing expensive medications and underscored the importance of awareness campaigns on the risks of these diseases. He concluded by thanking both ministries for their roles in this important field.
On the same occasion, His Excellency Judge Nabil Al-Ezzani, Minister of Justice, stressed the importance of building healthy families free from hereditary blood diseases, which can only be achieved through mandatory premarital medical screening. He called on the media to prepare awareness programs explaining the risks of these chronic diseases and ways to prevent them. He also confirmed the Ministry of Justice’s readiness to exert all possible efforts to combat these diseases and to instruct all legal registrars to urge couples to undergo early premarital medical testing before marriage procedures begin.
During the workshop, Dr. Ahmed Shamsan Al-Muqrami, President of the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Diseases, presented the symptoms, complications, and prevention methods of thalassemia and hereditary hemolytic anemia. He provided statistical data on the number of patients across the republic’s governorates and noted the increasing numbers year after year. Dr. Al-Muqrami stressed that the only solution to these tragedies is the implementation of premarital screening.
The participants affirmed the importance of intensifying awareness efforts on thalassemia and hereditary hemolytic anemia, the necessity of premarital medical screening, and the dangers of neglecting such screening. They also called for the availability of thalassemia testing in all districts.
Furthermore, they urged the concerned authorities in the Ministries of Health and Justice to provide the necessary medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory equipment required for hereditary blood disease tests. They also recommended issuing circulars to legal registrars to raise awareness about the dangers of hereditary blood diseases and to require premarital screening before initiating marriage procedures.
The workshop was attended by several heads of authorities, hospital directors, health office managers, documentation office chiefs, officials from the Ministries of Health and Justice, as well as patients, their families, and staff members of the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Diseases.
