Jump to full article: Yemen Times (ye), 2008-08-27
Author: Mahmoud Assamei
Intro: In Yemen, chemicals or pesticides used in farming and tobaccos are the main factors in increasing cancer cases, doctors say.
They warn that using tobacco, whether it is smoked or smokeless tobacco such as shamma, which is placed under the tongue or between the lips and gums, coupled with the unregulated use of chemicals in irrigation are factors in the spread of various cancers and other diseases among Yemenis.
Officials and specialists maintain that such chemicals enter the country both legally and illegally, but that the Yemeni government has failed to control them to the degree that they have become used on all farms.
Dr. Mohammed Kedesi, radiation oncologist at the National Oncology Center in Sana’a, said, “We’ve recently noticed a horrible phenomenon of increased instances of cancer among Yemenis, although the disease isn’t new in this country. . . .
“Most Yemenis afflicted with cancer are from Hodeidah governorate because of the bad habit of shamma usage.” . . .
Kedesi confirmed that the oncology center receives 25 new cancer cases every day. Most cancers among men, such as mouth, neck and tongue cancers, could result from their addiction to tobacco and chewing or eating plants sprayed with chemicals.
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