In 1997 Interplast Holland was given the opportunity of embarking on a project in Yemen. This project was partly financed by the Netherlands Embassy in Sana’a. At the time there were few surgeons capable of treating the many patients with cleft lips and palates, burns injuries and burns contractures. Many patients with deformities of this kind had to go abroad for treatment, which was extremely expensive.
Piet van den Akker initially travelled with the missions as Arabist and Dr. Jacques Veerman was our local support for organising the Interplast missies.

The first mission was to Sana’a, Yemen’s capital. Later missions went to the hospitals in Aden, Taiz, Seiyun and Hudeidah. The Yemeni surgeons were extremely enthusiastic and eager to learn from and work with the Interplast teams.
Interplast Holland, together with the Health minister at the time, Dr Abdul Nasser Munibari, initiated the building of a burns centre in Sana’a. Interplast, together with the Dutch architects, was involved in the planning and design.
A burns injuries society was set up to raise funds and create training courses. In January 2004 a German-financed centre was completed in Taiz and in Sana’a construction started on a children’s burns injuries centre next to the Al Sabaien Children’s hospital. With the help of The Saudies a burns centre was set up at the Al Ghamurhia Hospital in Sana’a.

At the moment there are three plastic surgeons working in the Al Thawra Modern General / Teaching Hospital in Sana’a and they are in the process of setting up a Plastic Reconstructive Surgery department. Interplast Holland warmly supports their efforts. More training in the use of “flap” surgery and microsurgery is certainly still needed.
In the last eleven years in Yemen just over 2000 young patients have been operated on and many doctors trained.