One to One: Dr Reyad Yassin Abdulla

Friday 26th October 2018 05:16 EDT
 

Dr Reyad Yassin Abdulla is the Yemeni Ambassador to France. Previously, he was the Health Minister in Yemen, also taking on the position of Foreign Minister at the start of the Yemeni conflict in 2014. Before being appointed in Government, he led the Healthcare team at the National Dialogue Conference, which worked on developing reforms and a new constitution post the Arab Spring. He has worked as a consultant on Hospital Facility Planning, Design, & Development and as an Academic Consultant for the UAE Military Attache. He began his career as a Doctor specialising in renal surgery.

1 Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
London. I was born and spent my childhood in Aden when it was under English rule, so when I moved to London in 1991, there was already a feeling of home. It’s also the place I’ve spent the most time in without any major problem or conflict. I still have a home and my children still reside in London, so I will go always go back to it.

2 What are your proudest achievements?
Firstly, raising my children. Two are doctors, and who I am proud are contributing to the NHS, and one has just begun her PhD.
I am also proud of what I have tried to do for Yemen. At the beginning of the conflict, I was appointed and spoke out as Foreign Minister; when many officials took a step back.
I am also proud of the healthcare reforms that I had worked on in Yemen’s Dialogue Conference and committed to implement when I was appointed Health Minister soon after. We had plans to rebuild a healthcare system similar to the NHS, and had already begun by sending a Yemeni delegation to the UK before the conflict begun. I had also worked on healthcare on a day to day level by planning and supervising the construction of the Al Thabet Hospital in Hudaidah and consulting on the Science and Technology Hospital in Sana’a, two of the leading hospitals in Yemen.

3 What inspires you? First and foremost, I believe God helps people who want to help themselves and others. I also like the history of great politicians for how they dealt with difficult situations (whilst still remaining conscious of their problems): Winston Churchill, for his unwavering position during world war II, Gandhi, for how he was able to change things through a change in consciousness rather than violence, and Sheikh Zayed, founder of the UAE, for his vision in transforming his country.

4 What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
What was particularly challenging was moving to the UK in 1991 and finding that even though I was a trained surgeon with years of experience, it was incredibly difficult for foreign doctors to practice without jumping unnecessary hurdles such as further exams and training cycles all over the UK. I was here with three children, with all the responsibilities that come with that and being new to a country, to be able to do this. Of course, things are simpler now the NHS is in need.

5 Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Different people at different times, but mainly my mother who pushed for me to pursue medicine even when others encouraged her to stop my education so that I could help provide for the family since I was the eldest child, and my wife who continues to always broaden my perspective with our discussions.

6 What is the best aspect about your current role?
The best aspect of being an Ambassador, and diplomacy and politics in general, is that no day is ever the same. There is always changes and developments, and new things to act upon—it isn’t a boring job. It is similar to being a doctor in that way, in that there is always a new patient, a new disease, a new situation to encounter.

7 And the worst? The worst looms over the best aspect: the current situation in Yemen, and the helplessness I feel as one person when the conflict involves so many factors and players. I am trying to do my part by facilitating initiatives and helping on individual cases where I can, but also remaining focused on long term development, like education and healthcare, and a life after the conflict.

8 What are your long term goals?
To contribute to the resolution of the conflict in Yemen, by fostering better relationships with everybody involved, and who hold a stake in Yemen. The country will not flourish if those that are a part of it are not invested in a peaceful resolution.

9 If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
In a country like Yemen, there are vast changes a PM can do, because there is much more leeway to do anything, and because it is a subzero situation, not just one aspect needs to change! Beyond the resolution of the conflict, I would focus on providing the basics, the prevention of disease and easing the food crisis, but with a long-term vision in mind so that we can finally move beyond this baseline of emergency, into genuine flourishing.

10 If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why.
It would be the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), because in his completeness, he is the best person to learn from. He was not just a Prophet, he was the best husband, father, leader of the community, and military, and he fulfilled those roles with honour and humility.


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