Egypt examines 2M newborns as part of Presidential initiative to detect, treat hearing impairment since 2019

CAIRO – 27 December 2021:  More than two million newborns have been examined as part of the Presidential initiative to detect and treat hearing impairment since it was launched in 2019, according to the initiative director, Ahmed Mustafa.

He added in televised statements that nearly 4,200 non-Egyptian newborns residing in Egypt have been examined as well.

Mostafa noted that hearing impairment is the fourth widely-spreader disability worldwide.

He explained that this disability is usually discovered at an early age from the first month of birth, which is the most important step to reduce hearing impairment.

In 2019, the government announced launching the presidential initiative to detect and treat hearing loss among newborns.

For that purpose, the government bought 1,462 hearing test devices targeting to conduct 5,000 cochlear implant surgeries annually. The Ministry of Interior has set as a requirement to issue birth certificates subjecting newborns to the hearing test.

The government explained in the launching that the screening would target almost 12 million students - aged between six and 12 - at 22,000 public, private, and Azhar schools.

The screening is assumed by 5,200 medical teams. Each is composed of a doctor, a nurse, a chemist, and a recorder. Students who need treatment are referred to one of the 225 clinics affiliated with the Medical Insurance Authority.

Check-ups take place after providing a written consent of a parent or guardian, and the student’s birth certificate.