Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said the cost of “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life) projects nationwide has exceeded EGP 450 billion, with the initiative’s first phase targeting more than 1,450 villages and benefiting around 20 million people.
Speaking at a press conference in Gharbia Governorate on Tuesday, Madbouli said the number of beneficiaries was equivalent to the populations of several countries, highlighting the scale of the projects carried out over about four and a half years.
He said Hayah Karima has gone beyond infrastructure development to improve healthcare services through the construction and upgrading of health units, medical centres and hospitals, as well as providing medicines and treatment.
Madbouli said he had used his field visits to speak directly with residents about their satisfaction with healthcare services. Residents reported improved access to medical care, he said, noting that many had previously travelled dozens of kilometres to receive treatment.
The initiative has also covered agricultural and veterinary services, drinking water and sewage networks, as well as upgrading water treatment plants to meet villages’ needs through 2050.
The targeted villages have also been connected to natural gas and fibre-optic networks, forming what Madbouly described as comprehensive rural development.
He attributed the lengthy implementation period to challenges including limited available land, the need to map existing networks and assess deteriorating infrastructure.
Madbouli stressed that the massive undertaking required the efforts of millions of Egyptians, consulting firms and implementing bodies to deliver comprehensive and sustainable improvements in rural services.
