Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced that a total of 2.39 million women have been screened, as part of Egypt’s “Mother and Fetus” health initiative, which was launched under the presidential “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative. Hence, about 590, 000 women have been screened in 10 months.
Since its launch in March 2020, the initiative has aimed to diagnose diseases transmitted from mothers to fetuses at an early stage and provide free treatment and medical care.
The initiative prioritizes early detection of diseases such as hepatitis B and syphilis in pregnant women. It also includes a comprehensive postpartum follow-up for mothers and their newborns for 42 days to identify and address any potential health complications. All tests conducted as part of the initiative ensure confidentiality and accuracy by utilizing internationally standardized reagents.
Along with screenings and medical care, the initiative offers disease prevention advice and emphasizes the importance of obtaining women’s consent for the services provided. It aims to enhance the quality of routine services offered by maternity and childcare centers by integrating the initiative into existing healthcare units.
The initiative encompasses a range of services, including a clinical examination to assess the overall health of pregnant women and fetuses, tetanus vaccinations, measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure, anemia tests, and determining the need for an Anti-D injection after birth. Urine analysis is performed to detect urinary system diseases, and necessary micronutrients are provided to mothers during and after pregnancy.
