Egypt’s First Harm Reduction Summit is scheduled to take place in Cairo this November under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad. The event will carry out its activities under the theme of “Empowering Effective Change”.
The summit aims to highlight the concept of harm reduction and reduce the negative effects of harmful practices on the environment, health, and society. It also aspires to create a platform to showcase successful case studies that have had a positive impact on both businesses and communities to achieve national development goals in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
The First Harm Reduction Summit in Egypt will bring together a prominent collection of local and regional professionals and specialists from the government and business sectors, representing various subjects. The event will mainly focus on developing harm reduction tactics and concepts associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It will also underscore the necessity of collaboration between the government and the private sector in increasing green projects that contribute to economic development, environmental protection, and societal damage reduction.
The summit’s opening session will discuss government efforts to change perceptions and approaches toward unfavorable behaviors and habits, as well as empower harm reduction in areas that directly impact society, including initiatives such as the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, the NWFE program, and the outcomes of the COP27 conference held in Sharm El Sheikh last year, which aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change globally, as well as the initiative to re-enable harm reduction in areas that directly impact society.
The first session, “Harm Reduction Perspectives from Medical Experts,” will investigate emerging scientific strategies for minimizing health risks caused by natural environmental variables as well as hazardous human habits and behaviors. The workshop will emphasize the need for early disease detection and successful therapies, especially in the cases of cancer and cardiovascular disorders. This workshop will cover measures for preventing skin cancer and minimizing the risks of excessive sun exposure, as well as promoting healthy diets and boosting physical exercise to reduce the risk of heart and lung disease.
The second session, “Harm reduction as a mutual benefit for businesses and communities,” will look at how harm reduction strategies can benefit the private sector and businesses in terms of cost savings, energy efficiency, and lowering their environmental footprint. At the same time, the session will illuminate how these behaviors benefit communities in terms of quality of life, personal health, and well-being.
Representatives from numerous government agencies, labor unions, and business organizations will be in attendance, as well as several prominent local and international institutions and corporations.
