CAIRO – The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt launched two mobile clinics of the joint project “Providing primary health care services to migrants and Egyptians in Greater Cairo”.
The project, which is carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, will provide two fully equipped mobile clinics with labs, a pediatric and a women’s clinic, as well as a general clinic.
The mobile clinics will be deployed in areas of Greater Cairo, characterized with a high concentration of migrants and vulnerable Egyptian communities with little accessibility to primary health care.
A third mobile clinic has been donated by ERC and added to the fleet, with its operational costs covered by the Embassy of Switzerland, until the end of 2021.
The launch event was attended by Dr. Nevin El-Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity and Deputy Chairman of the ERC Council, and the Swiss Ambassador to Egypt Paul Garnier, as well as Dr. Valerie Liechti, Head of the Office of International Cooperation of the Swiss Embassy.
The three vehicles will provide medical care services in the specialties of pediatrics, gynecology, general medicine, dermatology, and orthopedics, with two pharmacies to provide the necessary drugs, in addition to a lab that will provide various tests, such as kidney and liver function, comprehensive diabetes analysis, blood, pregnancy and other necessary analysis.
From the beginning of February, the mobile clinics will cover several areas in Cairo, including Al-Tabbah, the tenth district, kilo 4.5, Arab Maadi, Faisal, Al-Haram, Al-Obour and Ain Shams.
Switzerland has long supported health and protection services in Egypt throughout its various projects. The joint project with the ERC has been on-going since 2018, and is expected to continue during 2021 to ensure that primary health care services are available across Greater Cairo where it’s most needed.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Embassy of Switzerland has contributed CHF 1.6 million to alleviate the negative economic and medical consequences of the pandemic targeting both migrant and Egyptian communities.
This project in partnership with ERC is one example of such an intervention with direct medical assistance and awareness raising, including COVID-19 prevention and protection. “We are confident that the availability of primary health care services through the clinics will impact migrants and vulnerable Egyptians’ lives in a positive way, providing crucial support in a difficult time and opening new horizons for integrated health solutions”, said Ambassador Paul Garnier.
The launch of the mobile clinics is considered a milestone in a more elaborate process that has extended for more than two years of health care services and activities directed at the most vulnerable communities.
After receiving various services, many beneficiaries volunteered with the ERC and became contributors to the provision of such services to their peers.
“This project launch could not have come at a better time, where the country is in desperate need for medical support, especially for our migrants, refugees, and hosting communities”, Said Dr. Ramy El Nazer, CEO of the ERC.
The launch of the clinics is part of a broader spectrum of cooperation in which the ERC and the Swiss Embassy have established integral collaboration on several fronts.
These activities include raising awareness in disease prevention and through first aid workshops, providing health care services, and psychosocial activities for targeted beneficiaries.
