Egypt screens 3.25m women under maternal, fetal health initiative

Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced that 3.251 million women have been screened under President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s Maternal and Fetal Health initiative since inception, as part of the  100 Million Healthy Lives initiative, as per a Cabinet statement.

The initiative aims at early detection of diseases transmitted from mother to fetus, offering free treatment and care. The screening covers hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis among pregnant women.

Fawzy Fathy, executive director of the initiative, added that the programme includes a 42-day postnatal follow-up for both mother and newborn to monitor risk factors and provide necessary micronutrients.

The initiative guarantees test confidentiality, accurate diagnostics using internationally approved reagents, and offers counselling services, with participation requiring informed consent.

It includes clinical assessments of mother and fetus, tetanus vaccination, vital sign monitoring, anaemia testing, Anti-D injection eligibility, urine analysis, and screening for urinary tract infections.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama