8.7M school students screened for obesity, anemia, dwarfness

CAIRO - 2 April 2019: Since its launching on February 17, 8,730,801 school students have been screened within a campaign to determine the prevalence of obesity, anemia, and dwarfness.

Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed had stated in the launching that the screening would target almost 12 million students - aged between six and 12 - at 22,000 public, private, and Azhar schools.

The campaign is taking place over three phases. Two of which are finished. The first phase included Fayoum, Damietta, Asyut, Matrouh, Port Said, South Sinai, Qalyubia, Beheira, Alexandria, Giza, and Qena. The second phase consisted of Cairo, Suez, Ismailiyah, Kafr El Sheikh, Menoufia, Beni Suef, Sohag, North Sinai, Red Sea, Aswan, and Luxor. The last phase is taking place in Daqahliyah, Sharqeya, Gharbeya, Minya, and the New Valley.

The campaign will end on April 30. The first two phases respectively screened 4.976 million, and 2.772 million schools students. The third phase, which started on March 21, has screened until present 982,366 students.

The screening was assumed by 5,200 medical teams. Each is composed of a doctor, a nurse, a chemist, and a recorder. Students who need treatment are referred to one of the 225 clinics affiliated with the Medical Insurance Authority.

Check-ups take place after providing a written consent of a parent or guardian, and the student’s birth certificate.