Egypt: 171,000 newborns screened for genetic diseases under presidential initiative

The Ministry of Health and Population announced that 171,000 babies have so far been screened as part of a presidential initiative for the early detection of genetic diseases in newborns.

Launched under the “100 Million Healthy Lives” presidential initiative, this campaign kicked off on July 13, 2021 and aims to build a disability-free healthy generation.

The first phase of the initiative includes detecting 19 genetic diseases in premature infants in hospital nurseries that are affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Population, said the ministry's Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar.

He added that the second phase entails screening newborns in all nurseries of university hospitals, private hospitals and health units nationwide.