FGM risks, Hep C addressed in UN conference in Cairo

CAIRO - 27 April 2017: The United Nations Information Centre in Cairo, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and UN Women, held a conference Wednesday to address a variety of topics concerning UN development projects in Egypt.

The U.N. resident coordinator, Mr. Richard Dictus, gave an opening speech about the importance of the development projects sponsored by the U.N. in Egypt. He said all citizens should be aware of the projects to take part in them.

The three-hour conference outlined detailed projects aiming to help the country progress. Outlawing female genital mutilation, prevention and control of viral hepatitis infections and building food security systems in Southern Upper Egypt were the most important topics discussed in the conference.

The coordinator of the national program against female genital mutilation, Dr. Mona Amin, said in her keynote speech that the project mainly focuses on reducing the number of girls who are forced to undergo FGM. The project’s main goal is active implementation of the penal law issued in 2008, which mandates 5-7 years in prison for doctors or parents who commit this crime.

“I think this sentence is fair enough,” Dr. Amin told Egypt Today. “I am sure that we will not suffer from female genital mutilation cases by the next generation. It will disappear.”

The conference also discussed the World Food Program’s work in Egypt, which focuses on educating village farmers about the possible risks of climate change and how to face them. The program also gives farmers a list of crops that are not affected by climate change, such as wheat and sugar stoppers.

WHO representative Dr. John Jabour had the last cautionary word about the virulent viruses Hepatitis A, B and C, especially B and C which cause 96 percent of hepatitis-related deaths. John confirmed that they are working hard combat the infection