3.8m to benefit from cancer screening free of charge

Egyptian  Ministry of Health and Population announced the provision of services from the presidential initiative for early detection of cancerous tumors (lung, prostate, colon, cervix) to over 3.8 million people free of charge, under the slogan “100 Million Health”.

This comes within the first and second phases of the initiative, which included 18 governorates, targeting citizens aged 18 years and over, with the aim of detecting tumors in the early stages, which contributes to reducing the death rate resulting from the disease, and reducing the financial burden caused by diagnosing tumors in the late stages.

Dr Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, confirmed that the initiative also provides a smoking cessation assistance service, through which 202,449 people were referred to receive the necessary assistance by specialised medical teams.

Abdul Ghaffar said that based on the results of a questionnaire, a patient is referred to a hospital operating within the initiative for X-rays and tests, whereafter the patient is subject to periodic follow-up and referred to a panel to decide on further treatment.

The governorates in the first and second phases of the initiative included: Alexandria, Beheira, Matrouh, Damietta, Qalyubia, Fayyoum, Assiout, Port Said, South Sinai, Cairo, Menoufia, Red Sea, Kafr el-Sheikh, Sohag, Ismailia, Beni Sueif, North Sinai and Luxor.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health also announced the examination of 4,915,689 primary students from various schools across the country as part of presidential initiative for early detection of diseases (anemia, obesity, and stunting. This initiative was launched during the current academic year on November 5, 2023, and continues until today, as part of the state’s commitment to the health and safety of students.

The initiative targets examining students in the elementary stage, both Egyptians and non-Egyptians residing in Egypt, according to the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health. He noted that the initiative continues to operate until the end of the current academic year nationwide.