Egypt introduces 1st ever beach for disabled in Alexandria

CAIRO – 28 June 2022: Governor of Alexandria Mohamed al-Sharif stated Tuesday that Mandara Beach has been allocated exclusively to the disabled, noting that its capacity is 1,000 families per day and that entry is free.

The governor added that another beach for the disabled is being prepared to be the second of its kind in the country.

Consultant to Minister of Social Solidarity for the Affairs of the Disabled Maha Helaly stated in a TV interview in December that health insurance has been offered to 800,000 differently-abled individuals as a first phase.

Helaly noted that the law grants disabled individuals the right to acquire two pensions as well as a tax exemption to parents of disabled children.

In a similar context, the Ministry of Health and Population issued a decree earlier in the same month subscribing new social segments to the health insurance system.

The new segments are farmers and agricultural workers (their number is 6.5 million); self-employed citizens (1.8 million); taxi and minibus drivers (700,000); fishermen (65,600); and, artists (33,157). That is in addition to 6.2 million working in mines, constructions, and freight transportation.

By adding those 15.5 million citizens, the total number of health insurance beneficiaries rises to 65,930,829, with coverage nationwide becoming 68 percent of the Egyptian population.