Latest news with #Labib
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare spinal cancer tumor removed through patient's eye at university hospital
A young Maryland woman is "relieved and recovering" after doctors performed a novel surgery to remove her potentially deadly cancerous tumors. A surgical team at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) extracted the tumors, which had wrapped around the spinal cord, through the patient's eye socket. This was the first time surgeons removed a spinal tumor using a "transorbital" approach, according to a UMMC press release. Michael Bolton Had Strange Symptoms Before Brain Cancer Diagnosis: 'Something's Wrong' Karla Flores was just 19 when she was diagnosed with a chordoma, which is a developmental bone tumor, in her spine. At 18, Flores started experiencing double vision, ultimately leading to her diagnosis months later. Read On The Fox News App Chordomas are very rare, with only about 300 cases occurring in the U.S. each year. "The tumor was wrapped around the patient's spine and spinal cord and had invaded the vertebrae in her neck, just below the base of the skull," according to Mohamed Labib, M.D., neurosurgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Terminal Colon Cancer Patient Saved By Breakthrough Treatment "The primary risks were injuring the brainstem, spinal cord or major blood vessels with the drill or the fine instruments we used — any of these injuries could have resulted in paralysis or even death," Labib told Fox News Digital. "But without surgery, the chordoma could have continued to grow and put intense pressure on the spinal cord. This, too, would have paralyzed her arms and legs and eventually killed her. So, you can see how the stakes were very high with this procedure." The surgeons created a "huge surgical corridor" through the eye socket that enabled them to get in front of the spinal cord. "It was a straight shot," Labib said. "By going through the bottom of the eye socket, we were able to remove a tumor that otherwise would have been very difficult and very risky to address." During the procedure, Labib worked with a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Kalpesh T. Vakharia, M.D., who "carefully cut through the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane protecting the eye, inside the lower eyelid without disturbing the eye." To create the pathway to the spine, Vakharia removed the bottom of Flores' eye socket and a portion of her cheekbone, the release stated. Ancient Egyptians Attempted To Surgically Remove Brain Cancer From Skull 4,000 Years Ago, Study Finds "We wanted to develop a surgical plan where there would be no external scars and it would be impossible to tell that the patient even had surgery," said Vakharia. After Labib removed the tumor, Vakharia rebuilt the bottom of the eye socket using a titanium plate and rebuilt the cheek with bone from the patient's hip, the release detailed. "It was amazing to have had the opportunity to be part of surgery that had never been done before," Vakharia added. This approach also prevented any damage to the eustachian tube, major blood vessels such as the jugular vein and internal carotid artery, and nerves that control swallowing and speech, Labib noted. Prior to Flores' surgery, Labib had the chance to practice the transorbital procedure on cadavers "many, many times." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "The fact that people are willing to donate their bodies to science enabled us to do this and saved the life of this young woman," he said. Flores also had a large tumor around her brain stem, which was removed through two separate procedures via her skull and nose, the release stated. The spinal tumors could have been life-threatening if they had grown to the point where they caused significant brain stem compression, according to Andrea M. Hebert, MD, a UMCC head and neck surgeon who performed the endonasal procedure and took part in the transorbital surgery. "Many of these tumors recur, and that's why we favor a multidisciplinary approach to treatment," said Hebert in the release. Flores has also undergone radiation therapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. "Karla is doing really well — she's recovered from surgery and radiation and is ready to get back to work and school," Labib shared with Fox News Digital. "She's an incredibly brave young woman who has faced more than most her age. I expect that same strength of spirit will carry her into a promising future." Flores does have some nerve damage due to the tumor's proximity to the brain stem, which has caused some issues with movement of her left eye. "Learning about the spinal and brain tumors was terrifying, but I am so grateful the doctors were able to remove them," said Flores, who plans to go to school to become a manicurist. "I'm slowly recovering and with any problem I have, they help me," she continued. "I keep reminding myself to take one day at a time and know that each step is an accomplishment." Woman Says Dog Detected Her Breast Cancer Before Doctors Did: 'He's Known This Whole Time' Flores now plans to go to school to become a manicurist. Looking ahead, UMMC's team plans to demonstrate the transorbital procedure this fall to neurosurgeons from around the world, at their annual Skull Base surgery course. For more Health articles, visit "When you have such a broadened corridor to reach these tumors, you can completely remove them, which greatly reduces recurrence of the cancer," Labib told Fox News Digital. "We also have other patients who will be receiving similar surgeries in the near future."Original article source: Rare spinal cancer tumor removed through patient's eye at university hospital
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surgeons bid for medical first: Removing spinal tumor through patient's eye
Just before the medical staff wheeled Karla Flores into the operating room so that surgeons could work inside her head for the third time in less than a month, the 19-year-old budding manicurist said goodbye to her mom and dad. She didn't know if she would see them again. Her previous surgeries in the same building at the University of Maryland Medical Center had been hard enough: a pair of 14-hour procedures to rid Flores's brain of a rare bone tumor the size of a chicken's egg. This time, the surgeons faced a greater challenge. A second, smaller chordoma was strangling Flores's spinal cord near the base of the skull. After much discussion, the medical team had decided to try something that had never been done. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. They would remove the spinal tumor through her left eye socket. If the surgical path was not precise to within a few millimeters, Flores could lose all movement below the neck or suffer a fatal brain-stem stroke. If the procedure was successful, however, it would open a new avenue for doctors around the world treating difficult-to-reach tumors. One floor below the operating room entrance, Flores's lead surgeon, Mohamed A.M. Labib, sat in the hospital chapel. The 46-year-old neurosurgeon asked God to help Flores. In his preoperative ritual, prayer is the final act before he scrubs his hands for surgery. 'I am only a tool in the hands of God,' Labib tells patients, an idea that comforts him. Performing neurosurgery can feel like walking through a minefield, so it helps Labib to call on his belief as a Muslim that Allah is guiding him. Born in Dubai, the son of a gynecologist, Labib was 17 when he flew to Canada by himself to pursue his medical education. As a doctor, he has embraced the motto of pioneering neurosurgeon Robert Spetzler, who trained Labib at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Accept challenges, Spetzler told him. Reject norms. True to those watchwords, Labib began taking on unusual cases in 2021 soon after arriving in Baltimore, where he works for the medical center and is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In two procedures totaling more than 21 hours, he rescued a woman with five brain aneurysms, potentially life-threatening bulges that appear in arteries and blood vessels. As surgeons, Labib said, 'sometimes we are captives of our fear,' especially when another doctor has labeled a case inoperable. 'Fear should ignite in us the motivation to try and understand: Why are we not able to do these cases?' Just pondering the question, he said, can reveal a solution. - - - The third nostril Flores, a young woman with a fondness for horror movies and the Call of Duty video game series, had been healthy most of her life. While learning to drive in 2023, however, she encountered problems. When she peered through the windshield, she saw two stripes on the road where there was only one, two cars up ahead instead of one. Her primary-care doctor thought she might be experiencing double vision because she was forgetting to wear her glasses. But to Flores's alarm, the scan that the eye doctor ordered revealed a large mass pressing against her left eye. It was a rare tumor called a chordoma, a malignant growth known for its diverse texture, including sections that are fluid, gelatinous and calcified; about 300 are diagnosed in the United States each year. After receiving a referral, Flores sat in Labib's office last spring listening as the surgeon explained that it would take two operations to remove all of the brain tumor. He would perform the first himself and the second with his frequent partner, head and neck surgeon Andrea Hebert, who is an associate professor at the School of Medicine. As he talked, Labib was struck by the extraordinary calm of his young patient. Flores showed poise explaining the surgery to her parents, who lacked her skill with English. If the teenager was afraid, she hid it well. The first surgery, on April 16, 2024, involved removing a palm-size chunk of her skull, then gently pushing the brain aside to reach the tumor underneath. After removing a section of tumor ―it was too large to eliminate in a single procedure ― the surgeon reinstalled the piece of skull. Although the surgery went well, that was the day Labib realized he was dealing, not with one chordoma, but two. The discovery of the second chordoma, a thumb-size mass in her cervical spinal cord, meant that after undergoing a second surgery to remove the remainder of the brain tumor, Flores would still face a third lengthy procedure. If not treated aggressively, the spinal chordoma could grow significantly, increasing pressure on the spinal cord and eventually paralyzing or killing her. Removing the second tumor presented a dilemma. The medical team could blast it with radiation, but that option risked allowing the tumor to grow back more quickly. Doctors could approach the tumor by going through the back of Flores's neck. But that would leave them with an obstructed view of the mass they were trying to remove, since most of it lay in the front of the spinal column. They could enter from the front through her mouth. But mouths teem with germs, so Flores would be at risk of infection. They could enter through a nostril, but their path to the spine would be limited by sections of the palate and upper jaw. One more option existed, a strategy Labib had laid out in a paper the previous year. They could proceed through the lower eye socket, an opening Labib had dubbed 'the third nostril.' Although surgery through the eye socket was not new, using that route to reach down to the spine was. In his paper, Labib suggested the opening as a way to reach tumors below the inner ear in a region called the jugular foramen. He based his findings on work in cadaver heads. He had never used the technique on a living patient. To determine whether the route would work, Labib and Hebert described Flores's case to Kalpesh Vakharia, a 44-year-old facial, plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the hospital who was also an associate professor at the School of Medicine. They asked: Could you go through the eye socket to get us to the spine? Vakharia knew the procedure would be novel and said it felt 'awesome' to be chosen for it. But his excitement was tempered with an awareness that 'on the other end of this is a human being.' 'Can I take the weekend and think how that would be possible?' Vakharia asked. - - - Accept challenges, reject norms The three surgeons met again the following week and discussed their two major concerns: the novelty of the procedure, and the risk that it might place pressure on the eyeball, damaging or even destroying Flores's vision. They all agreed the eye socket offered the best chance of success. Labib then met with Flores and explained what the doctors were considering. He made sure she understood that the procedure had never been done. He told her the decision was hers. Flores appreciated the surgeon's sense of urgency. She, too, wanted to be free of the tumor as soon as possible. But she did not feel ready for a third surgery, and it made her nervous that she would be the first person ever to undergo the procedure. Still, she had come to trust Labib. She liked the calm, straightforward way he explained what would happen. 'He said it was in God's hands,' Flores recalled, 'and that's what gave me a lot of faith.' Like the doctor, she prayed before surgery. She told Labib she would go forward with the procedure. First, though, doctors removed the remainder of Flores's brain tumor eight days after the first surgery, proceeding through both nostrils to reach a portion in the nasal cavity. After the 14-hour surgery, Flores had a week before she was due back in the operating room. In the days leading up to the third surgery, she tried not to imagine it, worried that she would be left with a giant scar near her eye. Her parents told her again and again that everything would be all right, that she didn't need to worry. But when Flores looked in their eyes, worry was what she saw. She tried to focus on an image of life after surgery: the whole family laughing together in the living room of their Maryland home, her cat, Sushi, curled up beside her. To prepare himself for Flores's surgery, Labib spent weekends and other free time reporting to his lab a short distance from the hospital in Baltimore. In a room a little smaller than a single-car garage, under fluorescent lights, he spent long days running through the full procedure again and again on cadaver heads to make sure it would work. Vakharia and Hebert each joined for one of the practice surgeries. Labib performed an additional seven or so by himself. The practice runs helped Labib confirm that the procedure was possible and that it placed only minimal pressure on the eyeball. There would still be risks, especially damage to the spinal cord that could leave Flores paralyzed from the neck down. - - - A delicate procedure On May 1, 2024, the morning of the surgery, Labib woke feeling hyperalert, downed his customary three shots of espresso - no food - then left for the hospital. Excited and nervous, Hebert was reviewing Flores's scans and running through all the steps involved in the surgery. Vakharia, feeling the tension of attempting a medical first, tried imagining his calm place - an ocean washing over a sandy beach - a scene he'd grown up with during his childhood in California. As Flores and her parents drove to the hospital that morning, they sat quietly, each alone with their thoughts. Just a week earlier, Flores had undergone the second long surgery. The family felt distraught to be facing the fear and stress one more time. Flores's younger sister had advised her to stay strong, so she tried. Shortly after entering the operating room at 8 a.m., Flores went under anesthesia. With six doctors, nurses and residents looking on, Vakharia then made an incision in the upper gums, allowing him to separate soft tissue from bone in both the cheeks and lower eyelid. Peering down at Flores's eye through a microscope, he made a few small incisions in the inner portion of the eyelid, releasing the eyeball and the surrounding muscle and fat, so they could be shifted a few millimeters back in the socket. That way, the surgeons would not put pressure on the eyeball or its delicate web of nerves. To further protect the eye, Vakharia fitted over it a small plastic corneal shield. 'When you are in the orbit,' he explained, 'you have to be mindful that you have to just treat the eye like a newborn baby.' Although some doctors like to have music playing in the operating suite, Labib prefers to have nothing that could muffle communication among the medical staff. The only other sounds in the operating room as the team worked on Flores were the gentle beeping of the anesthesia machine, the deep breaths of the suction machine and the whine of the drill. Vakharia used a special drill to melt the fine cuts in bone that enabled him to remove sections from the upper jaw, the orbital floor, and the inner wall separating the eye socket from the sinus. He placed the sections of bone on the back table. Doctors also removed a 2-to-3-centimeter section of bone from Flores's hip, which would be used later when Vakharia reconstructed the areas of the face that had been altered. When he finished creating the opening through the eye socket, Labib and Hebert took over, clearing and navigating their way behind the throat toward the tumor. Through Flores's right nostril, Hebert wielded the endoscope, the combination light and camera that illuminated the passage to the spine so that Labib could see it clearly on the screen in front of him. Through the left nostril, Labib lowered the suction device used to pull out the sections of tumor that he cut away. Down the third nostril, the opening below Flores's eyelid, Labib guided the drill. He drilled into the bone of the spine, reaching the tumor, then used dissectors to delicately separate and remove the tumor, piece by piece, from the protective tissue around the spinal cord. Doctors also took fat from Flores's abdomen to pack around the spine and spinal cord to prevent fluid from leaking. They worked through the afternoon and late into the evening, taking short breaks every few hours to eat and drink. 'Time seemed to pass unnoticed,' Labib said later. 'You train your body to handle the long hours. Most importantly, I enjoy operating.' Finally, Vakharia returned, and using some of the bone from Flores's hip, he resculpted the sections of the upper jaw and eye socket that had been removed. He attached the resculpted sections, using titanium plates and tiny screws to keep them in place. He used titanium mesh to reconstruct the walls of the eye socket. Like other plastic surgeons, Vakharia views the work as an art form. His goal was to make Flores's face look as if the surgeons had never been there. When he'd finished, he pulled back the cloth drape so that doctors could see her entire face. Flores was then taken for a CT scan. The doctors checked the scan to ensure the tumor was completely gone. Her surgery ended at 2:50 a.m., almost 19 hours after it began. - - - The view ahead Two days later, Flores went through another, much briefer surgery to stabilize the junction between the bone at the base of the skull and the cervical spine, using screws, plates and rods. Flores's first clear memory after the surgeries is lying in her hospital bed eating red Jell-O and seeing her family, everyone asking, 'Are you okay?' The view from her left eye was foggy. She felt exhausted. She could barely walk. But she felt relieved to be done with the procedures. Flores spent a month and a half recovering, first in a rehabilitation center, then at home. Months later, she began proton therapy, a form of radiation treatment intended to kill any tiny fragments of tumor that remained. Today, almost a year after the surgery, Flores said her neck still hurts. She wears a bone therapy collar to support her neck and limit movement. Her most recent scans in March showed no evidence that the cancer had returned, and Labib said her prognosis is 'excellent.' Although her health insurance covered the first two procedures, Flores said, it has not covered the nearly $600,000 cost of the surgery that went through her eye socket and the stabilizing procedure two days later. Flores is eager to resume her old job as a warehouse worker for Kohl's so that she can save up her money for nail school. She paints little gold bows on her own nails and often decorates her mother's as well. She pictures herself working for an established nail salon, but one day, she hopes to create a shop of her own. Related Content At a Kentucky farm, star racehorses help people fight a monster: Addiction
Arab News
22-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is engineering a water-secure future
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is tackling water scarcity with bold steps toward a sustainable future. Through its National Water Strategy and Vision 2030, the Kingdom is pioneering solutions to ensure long-term water availability. Investing in desalination, wastewater reuse, and smart water management, Saudi Arabia is transforming the sector. The National Water Co. supports Vision 2030 by accelerating projects, improving infrastructure, and implementing digital water management for sustainability. Water sustainability strategy Hany Labib, chief operating officer of international consulting and engineering organization Dorsch Middle East, told Arab News that Saudi Arabia's structured approach to water sustainability ensures that security of the natural resource remains central to national development. 'The National Water Strategy and Vision 2030 have created a framework that balances infrastructure expansion, regulatory reforms, and advanced water management practices to address the Kingdom's water scarcity challenges,' he said. Labib noted that a key pillar of this strategy is investing in water infrastructure, highlighting his company's partnership with Saudi Arabia's NWC to oversee 253 projects, enhancing efficiency and service delivery. 'These projects are designed to reinforce water distribution networks, improve wastewater treatment, and ensure long-term water reliance and a positive customer experience,' he added. Public awareness campaigns underscore conserva-tion's importance amid climate pressures and population growth. Adham Sleiman, water utilities expert at Kearney MEA Another key initiative is Saudi Arabia's focus on optimizing resource use by reducing water losses and maximizing wastewater reuse. 'With a considerable investment, this key initiative is not just addressing immediate water demands but also ensuring the sustainability of resources for future generations. By aligning sustainability goals with economic and environmental objectives, Saudi Arabia is setting a benchmark for comprehensive water management strategy within the region,' said Labib. Smart water tech push Saudi Arabia is leveraging advanced technologies to drive long-term sustainability and operational efficiency in the water sector. Labib highlighted future technologies shaping Saudi Arabia's sustainability and efficiency goals, noting the Kingdom's leadership in smart water management solutions. 'With a growing number of water and wastewater projects in motion, technology is playing an increasingly critical role in optimizing resources, reducing waste, and ensuring long-term viability,' he said. The Dorsch Middle East official explained that one of the most transformative innovations is the expansion of treated wastewater reuse, reducing reliance on freshwater sources while meeting industrial and agricultural needs. 'In parallel, real-time digital monitoring systems are improving network efficiency by detecting leaks, tracking consumption patterns, and optimizing distribution,' he said. Labib noted that low-energy desalination and next-generation filtration technologies will boost sustainability in water production. He emphasized that through these innovations, Saudi Arabia is not only securing its own water future but also creating scalable solutions that other arid regions can adopt. 'In a fast-changing world of technology, Saudi Arabia seeks to be at the forefront of emerging technologies and make use of data in their water investment decisions. AI is a new tool which can greatly assist in the analysis of data arising from smart water systems including customer usage patterns,' said Labib. Integrated water strategy Adham Sleiman, water utilities expert at Kearney MEA, highlighted Saudi Arabia's integrated water sustainability approach under its national strategy, emphasizing its long-term vision. 'The Kingdom advances desalination, groundwater conservation, and wastewater reuse, as well as leveraging smart technologies and renewable energy. Investments in digital monitoring, smart metering, and AI-driven leak detection enhance efficiency,' he said. Sleiman noted that the strategy strengthens policy frameworks and governance to optimize water use, highlighted by the recent establishment of the Saudi Water Authority. In 2024, the NWC treated 2.1 billion cubic meters of wastewater, ensuring water security, sustainability, and efficiency. 'These efforts reinforce Saudi Arabia's commitment to a resilient water future,' Sleiman said. Saudi Arabia is at the center of water sustaina-bility initiatives, hosting major forums like the Saudi Water Forum and the One Water Summit. Azamat Zhangeldin, manager, energy and process industries at Kearney MEA PPPs driving innovation in sector As for public-private-partnerships in the sector, Sleiman emphasized that PPPs are key to advancing Saudi Arabia's water infrastructure in alignment with Vision 2030, driving innovation and investment in the sector. 'The Saudi Water Partnership Co. has attracted over SR45 billion ($12 billion) in private sector investments, fostering efficiency and innovation in water production and treatment. Saudi water ecosystem's collaborations with international firms introduce advanced technologies, such as energy-efficient desalination and smart water management systems,' Sleiman said. He added that these partnerships distribute risks and leverage private sector expertise, leading to improved service quality and accelerated project delivery. 'By expanding PPP frameworks, Saudi Arabia is strengthening its water security and promoting sustainable resource management,' said Sleiman. Addressing climate risks Azamat Zhangeldin, manager, energy and process industries at Kearney MEA, highlighted how Saudi Arabia is preparing to address climate-related risks, such as prolonged droughts or shifting rainfall patterns, to ensure long-term water availability and resilience. 'Saudi Arabia is at the center of water sustainability initiatives, hosting major forums like the Saudi Water Forum and the One Water Summit, emphasizing integrated policies, economic development, and accelerating UN SDG (sustainable development goal) 6,' he told Arab News. He added that recognizing limited freshwater sources, the Kingdom has invested heavily in desalination, with 33 plants and 139 purification facilities producing 11.5 million cubic meters daily. 'Public awareness campaigns underscore conservation's importance amid climate pressures and population growth,' he said, concluding that these solutions, encompassing desalination, purification, dam construction, and flood management, enhance water resilience and storage, ensuring long-term availability and mitigating climate-induced risks. Balanced approach Dorsch Middle East's Labib emphasized that sustainable urban planning is key to developing water security, citing initiatives such as Green Riyadh, which incorporate water-efficient irrigation and landscaping for long-term conservation. He added that through strong policies, innovative technologies, and large-scale infrastructure projects, Saudi Arabia is creating a resilient, efficient water system that ensures secure access for future generations. 'The Kingdom's ability to implement projects at scale while maintaining efficiency and resource optimization makes it a model for other nations facing similar water challenges,' said Labib. He believes Saudi Arabia is creating a replicable blueprint for sustainable water management, and added: 'The Kingdom's success lies in its centralized water strategy, where strong governance frameworks, public-private partnerships, and technological advancements work in unison to achieve long-term water security.'
Khaleej Times
17-03-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Shisha, cigarettes after iftar? Smoking during Ramadan poses higher health risks, experts warn
Smoking during Ramadan can be more harmful than at other times of the year. This is because of the sudden exposure of a person's body to smoke after several hours of fasting, some experts have warned. 'We usually see that people start smoking aggressively after not doing so for 12 to 16 hours,' said Dr Mutaz Labib, consultant pulmonary and critical care disease at Clemenceau Medical Center Hospital. 'So, there is massive exposure all at once as people smoke three or four cigarettes back-to-back. There is no adaptation period.' Dr Labib's comments were supported by Dr Raiza Hameed KH, specialist pulmonology at Aster Clinic in Bur Dubai. 'Many smokers try to compensate for the abstinence during the fasting period by chain-smoking after iftar,' she said. 'Deprivation of nicotine, which is the addictive factor in cigarettes, causes the smoker to chain-smoke because they need to maintain a certain level of nicotine to feed the addiction. The sudden intense introduction of toxic substances puts the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems at high risk.' During the holy month, Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking water, and smoking, among other things, from dawn to dusk. How vaping and shisha is more harmful According to Dr Mutaz, people who vape are at a higher risk of facing health complications when they smoke after iftar. 'Due to the huge amount of the smoke that they get with each puff of vaping, especially after iftar, there is a study done with spectrography methodology which showed that in one minute, the brain may get intoxicated,' he said. 'So, there are cases of people losing consciousness and developing stroke, heart attack and other serious problems. I ask patients why they want to subject themselves to such critical risk and try to convince them to pursue smoke cessation.' Dr Raiza said that the use of shishas is found to be 'particularly increased' during the month, even among non-smokers, due to an increase in family gatherings and eating out at suhoor tents. 'Smoke inhaled in one hour of shisha can equal up to 100 cigarettes,' she said. 'The effects of smoking shisha are much worse during Ramadan due to dehydration caused by daily fasting periods. Blood pressure increases, and heart beats become irregular, which can sometimes lead to life threatening arrhythmias. Nicotine induces coronary spasms, which can trigger heart attacks. There is a high risk of infectious diseases associated as the shisha pipes are not always properly cleaned.' Kicking the habit For many, this month is a springboard to quit the habit. Last Ramadan, Omer Khan, the CEO of mental health platform Helply, stopped smoking after 23 years, calling the month 'the perfect opportunity' to take the 'first big step' towards quitting. 'I wanted to stop smoking before I turned 40 and since I was already fasting for long hours, I figured — why not push through and extend that discipline beyond iftar,' he said. 'The first few days were tough, especially when the cravings hit in the evening. But I reminded myself that if I could go all day without smoking, I could go a little longer. And then a little longer after that.' He said it was the hardest mental battle he had ever fought in his life. 'It was about breaking a habit that had been part of my daily routine for more than two decades,' he said. 'I had trained my brain to associate smoking with stress relief, coffee breaks, driving, and even socialising. So, the real fight was convincing myself that I didn't need it anymore.' He said he was already enjoying the benefits of quitting and urged others to use Ramadan to kick the habit. 'I have better breathing, more energy and fresher lungs—these are things I don't want to trade for a cigarette,' he said. 'Ramadan gives people the push to quit. If you manage to quit smoking during the month, you have already proven to have the discipline to do it. The key now is to keep that momentum going.' Dr Raiza added that several studies have shown that the severity of withdrawal symptoms linked to smoking is minimised during Ramadan fasting. 'Many smokers and vapers successfully quit during the month,' she said. 'By quitting, people not only improve their health but also demonstrate their commitment to self-improvement during this holy month.'
Daily News Egypt
02-03-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Reefy Microfinance pumps EGP 4bn into Egypt's economy in 2024
Reefy Microfinance Enterprise Services has injected EGP 4bn in financing during 2024, pushing the company's total funding since its establishment in 2007 beyond EGP 20bn. Notably, the past year alone accounted for 20% of the total financing provided throughout the company's history, marking a significant milestone in its expansion journey. As the first company to secure a license from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to operate in the microfinance sector, Reefy has reinforced its leadership in delivering accessible financial solutions tailored to its clients' needs. This underscores its vital role in fostering entrepreneurship, stimulating economic activity, promoting financial inclusion, and enhancing social stability. Over the past year, Reefy sustained strong operational momentum, further consolidating its position in the microfinance industry. In December 2024, the company's total client portfolio stood at EGP 3.2bn, with an average loan size of EGP 36,400—reflecting a 23% increase. Committed to expanding its outreach, the company continued its strategic growth, opening 23 new branches in 2024. This expansion brought its total branch network to 185 locations across 21 governorates, ensuring broader access to financial services, particularly in underserved areas. Reefy also posted robust financial results in 2024, reporting total operating revenue of EGP 1.84bn, a 27% increase from the previous year. Net profit surged to EGP 374m, with a record return on equity (ROE) of 78.1%. These achievements came despite economic headwinds, including an 800 basis-point interest rate hike at the start of the year. Moreover, Reefy was among the first companies to implement the new minimum wage in May, showcasing its proactive approach to regulatory compliance and its commitment to employee welfare. Ahmed Labib, Managing Director and CEO of Reefy, highlighted the company's resilience and adaptability in navigating economic challenges. 'Reefy continues to demonstrate that sustainable growth and financial stability are achievable, even amid economic uncertainties. Despite sharp interest rate hikes in early 2024, we maintained strong performance and steady expansion,' Labib stated. He added: 'With a clear vision and an exceptional team, we remain dedicated to expanding our footprint and innovating financing solutions to earn and retain the trust of our clients.' In a key development, Reefy secured approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority in early November 2024 to securitize a portfolio worth EGP 1.066bn through the Egyptian Securitization Company. This transaction, executed as the second issuance under Reefy's securitization bond program, received a 'Prime 1' rating from MERIS, the highest possible credit rating. The successful issuance provided the company with ample liquidity to support micro-entrepreneurs with competitive financing solutions, further cementing its leadership in the sector. Reefy's impact also extended beyond Egypt's borders, earning global recognition for its sustained growth. In May 2024, the company was once again featured on the Financial Times' list of Africa's fastest-growing companies, marking its second consecutive year on the prestigious ranking. This acknowledgment underscores Reefy's success in achieving sustainable expansion and maintaining its dominance in Egypt's microfinance industry.
