November Rain in Yemen

It has been a month since my last blog and the month of November run so fast just like one snap. Various events and unexpected situations happened. The family of ADRA Yemen lost a dear member who had been with ADRA for three years. +Minda Lagrimas passed away last November 14 with a tragic road accident. We dedicate this corner to her loyalty and commitment to ADRA Family. Also, in behalf of the family and friends of Nanay (Mother) Minda, we would like to express our gratitude to all your sympathy and prayers. Nanay Minda did not die in vain… she was one of the many unsung heroes of the Philippine Republic who keep the said country's GNP survives through dollar remmittances.

Life goes on, here in Hais, every day we have dialogue with different people, this time I want to introduce to you a teenager named Ahmed Dawood Muhadeen. He is 19 years old, the eldest in the family with 12 kins. He finished his secondary school and hoping to enter college. He love playing football and he helps his mother in looking after his younger brothers and sisters. Three months ago he was injured while playing football, he got unbearable pain for about week. His grandfather adviced him to dip his right arm in boiling water to relieve the pain. Without analyzing what will be the circumstances he did follow the advice of his grandfather, then he got third degree burn on his right arm. His mother brought him in Al Thawra Hospital in Sanaa for medical attention. His burn was given treatment but his broken bone was not attended. He came to ADRA Hais to seek advice and or assistance.

Mr. Abdullah Yassin our Project Coordinator assessed his arm, his bone has been dislocated and his five fingers need surgery. Temporarily, Ahmed was given Analgesic for his pain, and then he will be referred to an orthopedic Hospital in Hodeida for proper treatment and surgery. Sad to say at the moment our programme cannot afford to finance his surgery, Inshallah we will find away to assist him.

Let us also meet, Mohammad Dobalah, 7 years old, he spent his first year of life crawling because his two legs was paralyzed. He could not stand, he kept his hip and knees bent and his feet in a tip toes. Since then he developed contractures on hips, knees and ankles. His disability could not stop him from being sociable and happy child. Dobalah became popular in the office and in the nearby Commercial Bank with his attitude and his smiling face. He comes to our office to play and have interaction with our team. It is hard to say if he can walk; our therapist said that his contracture is advanced and old that is difficult to be corrected. His case may require gradual stretching with plaster cast, it will take some time and will be very uncomfortable and painful.

Of course our day won’t be complete without the visit of Sa’ad Yahjaa Sheaheel. She is very sweet and charming old lady. Her right eye is completely blind then her left eye has cataract. She always comes to the office to interact with our team. She is scheduled for eye diagnosis on December 22,2008 and we are hoping we can save her left eye.

Other event..........
Assistance to Physically Challenge Programme III, joined the programme exhibit organized by the YEMEN Forum of International NGO. The event was held at Sheraton Hotel last Nov. 24,2008. There were 24 INGO attended and participated the event. This will serve as entry point for ADRA Hais team to establish networking with different INGO working in Hodeida Governorate.

Dream Car:
The team did a canvass of different vehicle that will serve our patients in Hodeida. This requires a huge amount of money, but there is a saying if there;s will there’s a way. We in ADRA Hais hope to serve to the fullest our programme partners. Inshallah we can acquire the right vehicle for our programme recipients.