Egypt unveils ambitious public health plan

CAIRO – 22 October 2024: The Ministry of Health and Population has outlined its national preventive system aimed at safeguarding public health. This initiative has inspected 50,000 food establishments, conducted tests on 120,000 food samples, 72,000 water samples, 7,607 air pollutant samples, 2,467 environmental monitoring samples from the Nile River, and 4,680 samples from sewage systems.

The Ministry has also trained workers at 915 facilities to handle the impact of climate change, and safely collected and treated 10,000 tons of hazardous medical waste. Notably, the Assiut Waste Complex was developed at a cost of LE 62 million.

Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry, highlighted that the national program for monitoring infectious diseases includes the activation of monkeypox surveillance and training for relevant departments. Updated guidelines for managing monkeypox and event-based monitoring were also issued.

Vaccination efforts at Egypt’s entry points have been strengthened, with 6,579 travelers vaccinated against polio and 1,491 against measles. Additionally, 6.7 million passengers arriving from high-risk areas were screened at quarantine stations.

The Ministry’s labs performed 1.3 million lab tests, with a new Central Laboratory project in Badr City progressing at 79% completion, with an estimated project cost of LE 1.375 billion.

A significant portion of the preventive plan focuses on treating and controlling schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and intestinal parasites. The Ministry provided 1.6 million tablets for treatment, along with 6 tons of niclosamide to combat snail carriers of schistosomiasis. Additionally, 50 microscopes have been supplied for examination, with 150 more on the way. The Ministry conducted 400,000 lab tests on various snail species and inspected 200,000 kilometers of waterways for schistosomiasis and fascioliasis.

Efforts to combat malaria and mosquito-borne diseases continue, with 53,000 malaria samples and 6,021 samples from contacts of positive cases screened. Additionally, 17,000 filariasis samples were tested, and 374 individuals received psychological and health rehabilitation.

Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the importance of monitoring global epidemiological developments and maintaining strict health surveillance for travelers entering and leaving Egypt. Quarantine personnel at all entry points are trained to identify infectious diseases and take immediate action when necessary. The Ministry is also focused on ensuring all necessary medical and non-medical supplies are available at quarantine facilities.

The Ministry reiterated the importance of continued risk assessments for health events impacting public health. This includes developing updated guidelines for disease surveillance, revising the list of reportable infectious diseases, and expanding vaccination coverage for targeted groups.

Travelers to disease-endemic areas are required to be vaccinated, and the Ministry is closely monitoring the supply and distribution of vaccines, serums, and other medical supplies. A strategic stockpile of these supplies is being maintained, along with single-use self-destruct syringes and safety boxes for safe disposal of hazardous medical waste.

This comprehensive plan demonstrates Egypt's commitment to protecting public health through a combination of preventive measures, disease monitoring, and environmental safety.