The Minya Health Directorate organized an event on Sunday as part of Pink October, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection and encourage women to benefit from available screening and educational services. The event was held under Egypt’s presidential initiatives supporting women’s health, under the patronage of Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, and Imad Kadwani, Governor of Minya.
The event was attended by Marwa Mohamed Ismail, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Minya; Al-Shaimaa Ali Taha, Deputy Undersecretary; Yasser Abdel Gawad, an oncology consultant at the Minya Oncology Center; and several healthcare officials, representatives of the governorate’s General Office, and members of the New Minya City Board of Trustees.
Marwa Mohamed Ismail highlighted the role of presidential initiatives in improving public health and expanding medical services for citizens. She stressed the need to intensify breast cancer awareness campaigns and educate women about the importance of regular screening and early detection. She also praised the efforts of the Minya Health Administration and the team involved in organizing the event.
Al-Shaimaa Ali Taha explained that Pink October activities seek to strengthen women’s health awareness. She emphasized the role of medical teams in informing the public about available healthcare services and where they can be accessed. She also noted that health units and offices are distributed across the governorate to make screening and awareness services more accessible to women.
During the event, Yasser Abdel Gawad delivered an introductory awareness lecture on the importance of early breast cancer detection, breast self-examination, and specialized medical screening. He explained that screening and detection services are provided free of charge through the relevant health authorities, in accordance with approved medical protocols and in coordination with the concerned bodies. These services aim to identify cases at an early stage and improve opportunities for effective treatment.
The oncology consultant also stressed the importance of promoting health awareness and correcting misconceptions about the disease. He explained that detecting tumors at an early stage helps determine appropriate treatment and improves the chances of recovery. He also outlined proper self-examination techniques and discussed the role of modern diagnostic methods in identifying changes that may require further medical investigation.
On the community engagement front, Fatma Al-Zahraa, Director of the Governorate’s Women’s Affairs Department, praised the Minya Health Directorate’s efforts to implement presidential initiatives and expand awareness activities and services for women.
Amin Abdel Khalek and engineer Mostafa Salah also affirmed the New Minya City Board of Trustees’ support for efforts to raise awareness of available healthcare services, particularly at Future Youth Center, and strengthen cooperation in health and education.
The event concluded with a commitment to continue promoting women’s health awareness and encouraging women to visit local health units to inquire about early breast cancer detection services and benefit from them. These efforts aim to support early diagnosis and protect the health of Egyptian women and families.
Other participants included Abu El-Fotouh Sawy, Director of the Primary Healthcare Department at the Minya Health Directorate; Michael Nabil, Director of the Egyptian Family Development Department; Asmaa Ahmed Ibrahim, Director of Public Relations at the directorate; and Mohamed Ezzat, Director of the Minya Health Administration.
