The Ministry of Health and Population announced that it has received 57,129,006 visits from women seeking screening and awareness services under the ongoing Presidential Initiative to Support Women’s Health. This initiative, launched in July 2019, has been pivotal in providing essential health services to women across Egypt, with the program continuing through February 2025.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the ministry’s official spokesperson, highlighted the breakdown of visits: 22,459,695 visits were made by first-time participants, 22,256,493 were routine follow-up visits, and 12,413,817 were ad hoc visits for various health concerns. He emphasized the importance of regular health checkups and how early detection of conditions, particularly breast cancer, plays a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and reducing the overall healthcare burden on the state. He further assured that treatment under the initiative follows the latest global standards and is offered for free.
Abdel Ghaffar also reported that 870,376 women visited hospitals for advanced screening services. These services are offered through 3,663 health units nationwide and are supported by 102 hospitals that provide advanced diagnostic and treatment services to women in need. Additionally, inquiries can be made through the initiative’s dedicated hotline, 15335.
The initiative follows the latest international breast cancer treatment protocols and is supported by 14 centers under the Ministry of Health, along with 14 centers affiliated with the Supreme Council of University Hospitals. These centers provide free treatment and are being further developed to include applied research aimed at advancing cancer treatment. This is in line with the government’s broader vision to improve public health.
The initiative targets women starting at the age of 18 and includes screenings for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, as well as awareness campaigns about reproductive health and family planning. The program also educates women about the risk factors leading to non-communicable diseases and promotes healthy lifestyle choices.
Dr. Hatem Amin, the Executive Director of the initiative, reported the detection of 31,418 cases of breast cancer, the completion of 416,667 mammograms, and the analysis of 47,947 tumor samples since the initiative’s launch. Furthermore, 105,774 women were screened through mobile health units, and 47,947 pathological samples were analyzed.
He also mentioned that the initiative follows up on the treatment of women diagnosed with cancer, whether they are enrolled in the national health insurance system or benefiting from treatment at the state’s expense. In addition, to enhance the quality of care, the initiative has trained 30,005 medical staff, including doctors, nurses, radiologists, and pathologists, and received 27,495 inquiries about the services offered.
This comprehensive initiative not only aims to improve women’s health but also to advance Egypt’s healthcare capabilities and ensure that every woman has access to essential health services.
