Latest news with #KhaledAbdel-Ghaffar
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-07-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt's fertility rate drops to 2.4 children per woman in 2024 - Health
Egypt's fertility rate fell to 2.41 children per woman in 2024, down from 2.85 in 2021—a 15.4 percent decline over three years, Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar stated on Monday. Speaking at the 2025 World Population Day event in Cairo, Abdel-Ghaffar described the decline as a 'tangible positive result' of ongoing efforts to manage population growth. The figure brings Egypt closer to its long-term target of 1.6 births per woman. According to the country's official demographic surveys, fertility had already declined to 2.8 by 2021 from 3.5 in 2014. Abdel-Ghaffar added that Egypt's birth rate also fell to 18.5 births per 1,000 people in 2024, down from 26.8 in 2017. The total number of annual births dropped below two million for the first time since 2007. Egypt, home to more than 107 million people, is the 13th most populous country in the world. The government has stepped up efforts in recent years to slow the pace of population growth. In 2023, authorities launched the National Population and Development Strategy (2023–2030), followed by a short-term 2025–2027 action plan. The strategy includes tools such as a national population index tracking 29 indicators, including child marriage, illiteracy, and school dropout rates. 'Egypt is moving steadily toward achieving the desired balance between population growth and economic growth,' the minister stated. He described the country's demographic makeup, 31.2 percent under 15 and 5.9 percent over 60, as a 'golden opportunity' that should be leveraged through youth-focused policies and programs. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
14-07-2025
- Health
- CairoScene
Egypt & Saudi Arabia Sign MoU for Health Sector Cooperation
The MoU outlines cooperation in areas such as the exchange of medical expertise and joint expert visits. Egypt's Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, and Saudi Health Minister Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration across key health sectors. The MoU outlines cooperation in areas such as the exchange of medical expertise, joint expert visits, and the organisation of health-related conferences, seminars, and workshops. The MoU also focuses on pharmaceutical care, with plans for cooperation in clinical pharmacy, drug safety, antimicrobial surveillance, rational antibiotic use, and the development of remote and virtual pharmacy services. To operationalise the agreement, both countries will form joint working groups tasked with devising an implementation roadmap, facilitating expert exchanges, and organising joint conferences, seminars, and workshops. On the sidelines of the MoU signing, the two ministers discussed preparations for the 2025 Hajj season, particularly efforts to ensure efficient and high-quality healthcare services for Egyptian pilgrims. The talks also explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in digital health transformation, universal health insurance systems, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the aim of enhancing regional drug security. Additionally, the meeting emphasised expanding public-private partnerships and attracting Saudi investments to support Egypt's healthcare infrastructure.
Watani
01-07-2025
- Health
- Watani
Egypt,WHO, KSRelief initiative for Sudanese kidney patients in Egypt
In cooperation with the World Health Organisation WHO, and with the support of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), Egypt has launched a health initiative to serve Sudanese refugees suffering from kidney failure. A news release by WHO Egypt office said that the USD3.6 million Sudanese Renal Failure Support Project will provide life-saving dialysis treatment and essential medications for some 1,000 displaced Sudanese patients. Egypt has been hosting around 5 million Sudanese refugees who fled their war torn land since war erupted in April 2023. The health initiative will be implemented in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, which are home to the largest Sudanese communities in Egypt. 'Egypt has long honoured its humanitarian responsibility towards its Arab and African neighbours,' Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said. 'We are committed to ensuring that refugees have access to decent living conditions, including healthcare on par with Egyptian citizens,' he affirmed. The Minister lauded KSRelief's humanitarian contribution which ensures that Sudanese patients get regular dialysis and required ongoing care. WHO Egypt representative Niema Abid said that Egypt's hosting of large numbers of Sudanese refugees, in addition to some 100,000 from Gaza who need medical care, puts pressure on Egyptian services sectors, especially health service. Egypt's Ministry of Health, he said, has always done its utmost, but has been overburdened with providing much-needed and impossible-to-delay dialysis and relevant medication to kidney patients. Even though most patients pay for their treatment, the health service is still overburdened. Dr Abid stressed the importance of equitable healthcare for vulnerable groups, specifically refugees and migrants. 'The WHO Constitution states that access to the highest standard of health is a fundamental right for all,' he said. 'This project reflects the collaboration needed between nations, organisations, and donors to uphold that right.' Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Moallem, director of Medical and Environmental Aid at KSRelief, said the project will deliver over 90,000 dialysis sessions and 3,200 kidney transplant prescriptions within one year. He described it as the centre's first initiative responding to the Sudan crisis, with more humanitarian programmes to follow. Comments comments Tags: Egypt WHO KSRelief kidney initiative for Sudanese refugees
Al-Ahram Weekly
01-07-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New humanitarian health initiative to support Sudanese kidney patients in Egypt - Health - Life & Style
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Egypt and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), launched a new humanitarian health project on Sunday to support Sudanese refugees suffering from kidney failure. According to a news release by the WHO Egypt office, the $3.6 million Sudanese Renal Failure Support Project will provide life-saving dialysis treatment and essential medications for approximately 1,000 displaced Sudanese patients. Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, many of those refugees have fled to Egypt. The war has so far forced over 1.5 million Sudanese to flee across the border. The project, signed last March, will be implemented in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, which are home to the largest Sudanese communities in Egypt. "Egypt has long honoured its humanitarian responsibility toward both Arab and African neighbours," Minister of Health Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said. During the launch event, Abdel-Ghaffar also stated that Egypt hosts nearly 10 million expatriates, half of whom are Sudanese. 'We are committed to ensuring they have access to decent living conditions, including healthcare on par with Egyptian citizens,' he affirmed. Moreover, he praised KSRelief's humanitarian contribution, particularly in supporting patients requiring regular dialysis and ongoing care. For her part, Dr. Nima Abid, WHO representative in Egypt, highlighted the importance of equitable healthcare for vulnerable groups, particularly refugees and migrants. 'The WHO Constitution states that access to the highest standard of health is a fundamental right for all,' Abid said. 'This project reflects the collaboration needed between nations, organizations, and donors to uphold that right,' she noted. Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Moallem, director of Medical and Environmental Aid at KSRelief, stated that the project will deliver over 90,000 dialysis sessions and 3,200 kidney transplant prescriptions within one year. He described it as the centre's first initiative responding to the Sudan crisis, with more humanitarian programmes to follow. Also in attendance were officials from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
20-04-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Following presidential orders, Egypt's Health Ministry investigates B.Laban chain
The top health and food safety officials in Egypt held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the controversy surrounding the popular chain, following presidential orders to ensure public safety. Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, met with the head of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), Tarek al-Houby, to discuss mechanisms for monitoring food products and the establishments involved in their distribution. This comes to implement Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's orders to ensure the quality and safety of food products circulating in the Egyptian market. The Ministry of Health explained in a statement that Abdel-Ghaffar emphasized the need to swiftly implement President Sisi's directive to address issues of concern to the Egyptian public and take the necessary corrective measures to protect citizen health. The minister affirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the NFSA, on food processing facilities across all governorates to ensure total compliance with health requirements for food products in circulation. The meeting also discussed all procedures and conditions requiring review and correction by violators. The minister ordered the resumption of operations of all branches of food chains that had been closed upon verifying their compliance with the health specifications and requirements announced by NFSA and other requirements, in cooperation with other relevant authorities. Investigating Following complaints from citizens, the statement added that 232 inspections were conducted on the chain's branches and factories in various locations across the country. The statement added that food of unknown origin and expired quantities were found. It also revealed that there were 122 unlicensed establishments. Up to 437 samples were collected from the chain, a percentage of which were found to be non-compliant with Egyptian standard specifications and binding technical regulations. It added that 697 kilograms of various foodstuffs and 70 liters of various beverages and juices were destroyed due to altered physical properties. Approximately 387 cases were filed for reasons related to lack of health requirements or failure of food handlers to carry health certificates. The statement continued that this resulted in legal measures to temporarily suspend these shops until all health and administrative violations are addressed, through the NFSA and the relevant administrative authorities in various governorates. The statement indicated that on April 6, the head of the NFSA held a meeting with one of the owners of and a team of technicians working there. The meeting presented the corrective measures they needed to take, both in their factories and at their points of sale. However, no response was forthcoming regarding taking the necessary steps to address these concerns. In light of the president's directives, the chain's owners were contacted to hold a coordination meeting to clarify the measures required to resume operations and improve the situation as soon as possible.
