Egypt screens engaged couples including non-Egyptians for hereditary, transmitted diseases

CAIRO - 12 March 2023: The premarital screening initiative targets Egyptian and non-Egyptian engaged couples in the country to help them prevent the transmission of diseases or passing them to their offspring.

The examinations cost L.E. 450-500 for a person, but only L.E.230 is paid, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar. While the test is obligatory to finalize marriage procedures, the decision of getting married is up to the couple regardless of the outcome of the examination. 

To produce a healthy generation of Egyptians, common hereditary diseases are included in the screening, such as Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease. These hereditary blood diseases are prevalent in Egypt, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Cousin marriage in Egypt helps spread these diseases. 

As Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of Ramadan around the beginning of May this year, approaches, the Health Ministry increases awareness on the screening. Eid al-Fitr is a time around which many couples get married in Egypt. 

The tests also include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and infectious diseases such as viral hepatitis and HIV. They will also be informed on means of birth control, ways to care for newborns, benefits of breastfeeding, and mechanisms that inhibit the transmission of diseases from the mother to unborn babies.

Hassan affirmed that medical teams providing the service are present in the rural and urban areas of the 27 governorates, noting that media must play a role in persuading couples to postpone pregnancy at the beginning of the marriage.