CAIRO – Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the political leadership gives a top priority to the health sector, noting the State targets expansion in lung transplants in accordance with global standards.
Abdel Ghaffar made the remarks during his participation in the 63rd Annual International Congress of the Egyptian Society of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis (ESCT), which lasts for three days under the auspices of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli.
In his speech, the health minister reviewed his ministry’s efforts in updating the guidelines on management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents and providing drug protocols for patients across the country.
He praised the achievement of the National Tuberculosis Control Program, which succeeded in reducing infection rates to 10 cases per 100,000 citizens in line with the 2030 sustainable development goals.
Abdel Ghaffar spoke about the importance of this conference, as it addresses the impact of climate change on chest diseases (bronchial asthma, pulmonary embolism, fibrosis and lung cancer), in addition to tackling the scientific sessions on the most common diseases in the winter and ways to prevent them with the use of vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
On his part, Presidential Adviser for Health and Prevention Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din said Egypt succeeded in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and diagnosing tuberculosis.
Tag El-Din, who also chairs the ESCT, asserted Egypt has the potential to become a pioneer in lung transplants.
He noted that the country makes the best use of artificial intelligence in diagnosing many diseases, especially chest diseases.
The presidential adviser stated the conference includes organizing scientific sessions about the risks of chest diseases, as well as discussing how to benefit from the know-how of leading countries in lung transplants.
