Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has announced significant progress under the Presidential Initiative for the Early Detection and Treatment of Hearing Impairment in Newborns.
Since its launch in September 2019, more than 9.5 million children have been screened.
The initiative has expanded its reach considerably, with 3,825 health units now providing screenings for newborns up to 28 days old.
Ministry spokesperson, Dr Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, stated that the network of specialised referral centres has grown to 34 across all governorates.
These centres are equipped with advanced medical technology to ensure the delivery of high-quality diagnostic and treatment services.
He further noted that over 626,000 children have been referred for follow-up examinations within one week of their initial screening.
As part of the initiative’s treatment efforts, 3,258 children have received cochlear implants, 13,032 have been fitted with hearing aids, and 24,490 have received medical treatment.
Dr Abdel Ghaffar emphasised that the initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to enhance comprehensive healthcare coverage and improve service quality, in line with the objectives of the “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative and Egypt’s Vision 2030, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Screening services have also been significantly expanded, with 3,825 health units now providing examinations for newborns up to 28 days old nationwide.
He clarified that not passing a second screening test does not necessarily indicate hearing loss, but rather suggests the need for further specialised assessment at referral centres.
To support implementation, nursing staff have been trained in the use of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) devices, while data entry personnel have been equipped to register newborn information through the initiative’s digital platform.
This contributes to the creation of a comprehensive health record system, including the integration of hearing screening data into birth records.
