267K newborns examined as part of Egypt's initiative for early detection of genetic diseases

CAIRO -  11 April 2023: The Ministry of Health and Population has published, on its official Facebook page, an infographic that includes the achievements of the President of the Republic's initiative for early detection of genetic diseases in newborns.

 

The infographic shows that 267,000 newborns were examined within the initiative, with the aim of reaching a healthy generation free from causes of disability.

 

Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that the initiative is currently working in its first phase, which aims to detect 19 genetic diseases in premature babies, in the incubators of the Ministry of Health and Population hospitals.

 

For his part, Dr. Wael Abdel Razek, Head of the Health Care and Nursing Sector, confirmed that the 19 diseases that are detected include (congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, bean anemia, cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, tetrahydropitrine deficiency, and elevated glutaric acid). blood isovaleric acid, maple urine disease, tyrosinemia - type 1 - galactosemia, urine homocysteine, arginine, citrulline, ornithine transporter carbamoyl deficiency, fatty acid oxidation, biotinidase deficiency).

 

Abdel Razek added that the examination is carried out by taking a blood sample from the child’s heel, and analyzing it in the laboratories of the Egyptian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Egyptian CDC”, which are equipped with the latest international devices in the field of detecting genetic diseases.

 

He explained that in the case of a positive sample, the child will be referred to conduct a confirmatory test for the disease, and to start receiving the necessary treatment free of charge, in accordance with the protocols established by the scientific committee of the initiative.

 

Dr. Hala Abdel-Rahman, Coordinator of the Early Detection of Genetic Diseases Initiative, indicated that 42 centers have been allocated for the treatment of genetic diseases in newborns, and that these centers are distributed over the governorates of the republic.