Enhancing healthcare and social development in rural Egypt, Dr. Abla El-Alfi, Deputy Minister of Health and Population, conducted an extensive field visit to Bahans Village in Abu Tesht Center, Qena Governorate. Accompanied by Dr. Khaled Abdel Halim, Governor of Qena, and Dr. Ahmed Sadek, Director of the Governorate’s Health Directorate, the visit was part of the ongoing rollout of the “Model Healthy Village” initiative under Egypt’s National Population and Development Plan 2025-2027.
The delegation toured the Family Medicine Unit and the Family Development Center in Bahans, where Dr. El-Alfi held a wide-ranging community meeting. The session included local residents and representatives from executive bodies, allowing the Deputy Minister to listen firsthand to community needs and proposals. She emphasized the crucial role of community participation in ensuring the success and sustainability of health and social programs.
Addressing Population Challenges with Localized Solutions
Dr. El-Alfi highlighted that Egypt’s population growth remains a critical challenge impacting service quality and hindering overall development. She stressed the importance of continuous field presence and direct citizen engagement, moving beyond temporary campaigns to sustained, grassroots action.
Significant findings from field studies presented during the visit reveal that only 20% of women are employed, with 10% actively seeking work but unable to find it, while 70% neither work nor seek employment. This underscores the urgent need for women’s economic and social empowerment as a key pillar in addressing population dynamics.
Bahans was selected as a pilot model aiming to provide a scalable, sustainable framework to improve rural living standards, aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 goals.
Strategic Enhancements for Healthcare and Community Services
The Deputy Minister announced several immediate steps including:
- Filling staffing gaps in the Family Medicine Unit
- Expanding the role and capacity of the Family Development Center
- Integrating these local services with Abu Tesht Central Hospital
- Allocating space for a community recreational park to enhance social interaction and well-being
Governor Khaled Abdel Halim confirmed that the initiative would officially launch on October 1, 2025, with a one-month on-site campaign featuring public health awareness drives covering nutrition, sports, hygiene, maternal and child health, literacy programs, youth training, and cultural activities.
Promoting Family Development and Child Rights in Dishna
Parallel to the field visit, Dr. El-Alfi participated in a community forum in Dishna titled “Egyptian Family Development and Our Children’s Rights.” The event gathered officials including Dr. Ahmed Sadek and Dr. Yasser Gamal, Director General of Monitoring and Governance at the National Population Council, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Religious Endowments, the Church, and local leaders.
Dr. El-Alfi underscored the pivotal role of the family in societal development, emphasizing that the “first 1,000 days” from pregnancy to a child’s second year are crucial for mental and physical development. She also called for combating child marriage, spotlighting the National Population Council’s campaign “Her Childhood is Her Right.”
The forum fostered an open dialogue where community members shared personal experiences related to child marriage. The discussions led to recommendations focused on strengthening collaboration between government institutions and civil society to:
- Combat school dropout rates
- Empower women socially and economically
- Provide sustainable employment opportunities
- Develop comprehensive awareness campaigns addressing childhood and early marriage issues
These efforts form part of a broad strategic plan to improve Egypt’s population indicators and enhance the quality of life in Qena.
