Latest news with #KhaledAbdelGhaffar
Daily News Egypt
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt becomes first country in Eastern Mediterranean to meet WHO target for hepatitis B control
Egypt has become the first country in the World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet the WHO target for hepatitis B control, a milestone achievement officially recognized during a ceremony held in Cairo on Sunday. At the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar received a formal certificate from WHO, confirming Egypt's success in achieving the benchmark for reducing hepatitis B prevalence among children and maintaining sustained vaccine coverage. According to national surveys conducted between 2008 and 2024, hepatitis B prevalence among individuals under 60 has declined by 15% since 2015, while rates among children under ten have dropped by 50%. Notably, prevalence among children under five now stands at below 1%—the threshold established by WHO for hepatitis B control. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, praised Egypt's public health infrastructure and long-standing commitment to immunization. She highlighted that Egypt has maintained over 90% coverage of the hepatitis B third-dose vaccine for more than a decade, as well as consistent coverage of the birth dose for five consecutive years. 'This is a turning point in Egypt's healthcare journey,' said Abdel Ghaffar. 'It reflects our national commitment to prevention, immunization, and universal health coverage, in alignment with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's vision for health security.' The success was largely driven by Egypt's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which achieved over 95% vaccine coverage, providing free hepatitis B vaccines to all newborns—Egyptian and non-Egyptian alike. The program also ensures immediate birth doses and immunoglobulin for infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Egypt also expanded immunization access to high-risk populations, including healthcare workers, dialysis patients, people living with HIV, and household contacts of hepatitis B carriers. These efforts were supported by upgrades to the digital infrastructure that improved vaccine tracking, reduced waste, and ensured equitable service delivery across the country. WHO Representative in Egypt, Naeema Al-Gasseer, commended Egypt for its technical capacity and long-term planning. 'Egypt fully deserves this recognition. It is a testament to what can be achieved through coordinated health policy and sustained investment in public health.' Beyond immunization, the Ministry of Health launched the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance (EVMA) to localize vaccine production and strengthen domestic supply chain resilience, a key pillar in Egypt's drive toward health system sustainability. Hesham Sateet, Head of the Unified Procurement Authority, emphasized the importance of securing vaccines and medical supplies through transparent, efficient mechanisms. 'This achievement would not have been possible without the full backing of Egypt's political leadership and the close coordination among state institutions,' he said. Ali El-Ghamrawy, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority, added that local manufacturing and regulatory governance are central to Egypt's broader health strategy, which is aligned with Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 'The Egyptian experience proves that with strategic planning, institutional coordination, and political will, even complex public health challenges can be overcome,' Abdel Ghaffar concluded, expressing gratitude to frontline health workers and international partners who supported Egypt's journey.
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily News Egypt
Severe storms paralyze Alexandria with hail, flash floods, and power outages
Severe thunderstorms and hailstorms battered Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria on Saturday, unleashing flash floods, widespread power outages, and structural damage across multiple districts. The intense weather event, described as one of the most severe in recent years, prompted an all-out emergency response from authorities. Heavy rain, hail, and even snow disrupted daily life in the city, forcing Alexandria University to postpone final exams for the 2024–2025 academic year. Local education authorities also delayed middle school exams by an hour after the storm struck at dawn, causing chaos on the city's roads. The Alexandria Port Authority announced the closure of both Alexandria and Dekheila harbours, citing dangerously high winds and surging waves. Officials said the decision was necessary to protect maritime operations and infrastructure from further damage as conditions continued to deteriorate. In a statement, the Alexandria Governorate confirmed it had raised its emergency alert to the maximum level. Civil defence units, utility crews, and traffic police were deployed citywide to clear flooded streets and restore traffic flow. Emergency teams responded to a residential building collapse in the El-Raml district and reported partial structural failures in two buildings in the Sporting area. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The storm brought down streetlights, trees, and billboards, especially along the coastal Corniche and major highways. Several eastern neighbourhoods experienced power outages, and local authorities suspended fishing activities due to the turbulent sea conditions. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned that unstable weather would persist through Sunday morning, forecasting continued thunderstorms, wind speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, and dangerous wave activity across the Mediterranean coastline. Citizens were urged to remain indoors and avoid flooded or low-lying areas. To ease pressure on the overwhelmed rainwater drainage network, local officials reduced potable water pressure in parts of western Alexandria and the Montaza district. Rapid-response crews were dispatched to remove uprooted trees, debris, and infrastructure damage to improve water runoff and restore road access. The Ministry of Health raised the alert level at all public hospitals and medical units across the city. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered full emergency preparedness for ambulance teams and medical staff. According to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, all facilities were reinforced with additional staff and supplies. 'As of now, no injuries or fatalities have been reported,' the ministry said, urging residents to follow safety guidance and remain indoors where possible. Ambulances were pre-deployed to high-traffic zones and densely populated areas in anticipation of weather-related emergencies. In parallel, Social Solidarity Minister Maya Morsy activated a central operations room to coordinate with local authorities. Regional offices raised their emergency status, and outreach teams were deployed to assist vulnerable populations and provide shelter for the homeless. The Egyptian Red Crescent also mobilized emergency response teams to aid stranded motorists and assist with evacuations in heavily flooded zones. Wind gusts exceeding 50 km/h and torrential rainfall continued to challenge responders throughout the morning. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's office confirmed the government is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as needed. 'We urge citizens to prioritize safety and cooperate with emergency responders,' the statement said.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt, US partner to launch global pharmaceutical manufacturing, export venture
Egypt has signed a major joint venture agreement with US-based Dawah Pharma to manufacture and export pharmaceutical products and nutritional supplements to global markets, with a strategic focus on North America and Europe. The deal marks a significant milestone in Egypt's push to expand its pharmaceutical exports and attract foreign investment to its health sector. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing ceremony, which took place in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Public Enterprise Sector Mohamed El-Shimy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority Ali El-Ghamrawy, and Hisham Setit, Head of the Unified Procurement Authority for Medical Supplies and Technology. The agreement was signed by Ashraf El-Khouly, Executive Managing Director of the Egyptian Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals—affiliated with the Ministry of Public Enterprise Sector—and Hossam Abdel Maksoud, Chairman of Dawah Pharma. Prime Minister Madbouly said the agreement reflects Egypt's broader strategy to enhance national industries, with the pharmaceutical sector identified as a key priority. He described the partnership as a strong vote of confidence in the quality and potential of Egyptian manufacturing, particularly in the medical field. Minister El-Shimy emphasized that the partnership follows major investments to modernize the holding company's infrastructure, upgrade production lines, and align operations with international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). He described the venture as a pivotal step in Egypt's plan to boost pharmaceutical exports, strengthen international collaboration, and increase foreign direct investment. Under the agreement, the new joint venture will manufacture and export a wide range of products including ampoules, nutritional supplements, sterile injections, ophthalmic preparations, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The first phase will focus on exporting six pre-approved dietary supplements to the US market—an unprecedented move for the Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals, after meeting all relevant international regulatory and quality benchmarks. The venture will leverage state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies for a diverse range of dosage forms including syrups, tablets, ampoules, pre-filled syringes, and transdermal patches. This is expected to accelerate global market entry for Egyptian-made products and support long-term growth for the company and its subsidiaries. El-Shimy affirmed that the new company will comply with the most stringent international regulations, particularly those set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), to ensure the competitiveness of Egyptian products in North America, Europe, and emerging markets in Africa and Asia. As per the terms of the agreement, the Egyptian Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals will hold a 40% stake in the joint venture, while Dawah Pharma will own 60%. The partnership will also spearhead efforts to open new international markets for Egyptian pharmaceutical exports, solidifying Egypt's position as a regional hub for high-quality medical manufacturing. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CairoScene
5 days ago
- Health
- CairoScene
Egypt Allocates EGP 406 Billion to Health Sector in 2025 Budget
This allocation marks a tenfold rise in health spending since 2013, reflecting long-term infrastructure and coverage efforts. May 28, 2025 Egypt's health budget has grown from EGP 34 billion in 2013 to EGP 406 billion in 2025, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar. Speaking at the US–Egypt Policy Leaders Forum 2025, Abdel Ghaffar said the increase supports healthcare infrastructure expansion and aims to attract private sector investment into Egypt's medical and public health landscape. Between 2014 and 2024, the Ministry of Health completed 1,245 infrastructure projects, with an additional 20 expected to be finalised in 2025. Egypt currently has around 2,000 hospitals, 5,400 primary healthcare units, and over 142,000 hospital beds—including 16,300 intensive care beds. Upcoming expansions are set to add 2,650 more beds and include the development of specialised medical cities in 11 governorates. The Universal Health Insurance System is also in progress, currently being implemented in six governorates and covering an estimated 6 million residents. Officials say these developments are part of broader national efforts to improve access to healthcare and expand coverage across the country.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Egypt signs strategic partnership to advance orthopedic care with Zimmer Biomet
Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population signed a cooperation protocol on Monday with US-based medical technology firm Zimmer Biomet and local distributor AZM to expand access to advanced orthopedic and prosthetic care across public hospitals. The agreement, signed at the Ministry's headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, aims to introduce state-of-the-art orthopedic implants and prosthetic technologies in Ministry-run healthcare facilities, aligning with international standards of care. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar attended the signing ceremony and described the partnership as a major milestone in improving the quality of healthcare services available to Egyptian citizens. He emphasized that the collaboration will accelerate patient access to cutting-edge treatments and reduce the burden of orthopedic conditions on both individuals and the healthcare system. Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar noted that the partnership will focus on enhancing orthopedic surgical procedures—particularly joint replacements—and expanding the availability of high-quality prosthetic limbs through the adoption of international best practices and advanced technologies. Zimmer Biomet was represented by Erik Antos, Vice President for Emerging Markets, while AZM CEO Amr Zekry signed on behalf of the local distributor. Antos expressed strong support for the partnership, reiterating Zimmer Biomet's commitment to transferring global medical expertise to Egypt and delivering world-class orthopedic solutions. He also highlighted the company's objective of empowering local medical professionals and improving outcomes for Egyptian patients. This agreement represents another step forward in Egypt's broader healthcare modernization efforts, which include strengthening infrastructure and fostering international collaborations to elevate public sector service delivery.
