1st phase of Hepatitis C initiative successful - gov't

CAIRO - 21 November 2018: Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi announced Wednesday the success of the first phase of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's "100 Million Health" initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population to detect and fight Hepatitis C and chronic diseases.

More than 10 million citizens have benefited from the initiative's first phase, he said during a joint press conference held at the Cabinet headquarters and attended by ministers concerned and representatives of a number of international organizations to announce the results of the initial phase.

Minister of Health and Population Dr Hala Zayed said the first 50-day phase, which ends late this month, has included offering health services to more than 10 million nationals.

Some 422,000 cases tested positive for Hepatitis C, with the majority of cases from Fayyoum and the least from Alexandria, she said.

Youth were the most citizens keen on taking part in the initiative, she said, adding that they were also the least to test positive.

Some 56% of women have taken part in the initiative, she pointed out.