Cairo: Deputy Minister of Health and Population Abla El-Alfy held a meeting on Friday, 27/2/2026, to review performance indicators related to the Egyptian family development file, as part of the urgent action plan of the National Population Strategy. The meeting was attended by leaders of the primary health care and family development sector and focused on birth rates in several governorates.According to State Information Service Egypt, El-Alfy noted that women born in 2000 are now entering their childbearing years, adding approximately 350,000 women annually to the reproductive-age population. This demographic shift poses a challenge that necessitates intensified awareness efforts and strengthened family planning services, particularly to reduce unplanned pregnancies. El-Alfy emphasized the importance of maintaining continuous communication with mothers to ensure effective and sustained family counseling.El-Alfy highlighted the need to maximize the use of various service delivery points, such as milk dis tribution outlets and vaccination centers. She pointed to the success of a pilot initiative in some areas, where long-acting family planning methods were provided to around 68% of women visiting milk distribution rooms. This reflects a positive response from Egyptian families when services and accurate scientific information are readily available.Additionally, El-Alfy reviewed progress in implementing the urgent plan to upgrade 1,500 health units in areas with high population indicators. The plan includes transforming 103 facilities into 'Centers of Excellence' that provide integrated services for maternal and child care, chronic diseases, the elderly, and children with special needs. Each center will serve a catchment area covering 12 to 20 primary health care units.The meeting further discussed the program to establish distinguished perinatal service centers, which have helped reduce neonatal mortality by up to 22 percent. This rate could increase to 50 percent with expanded support for natural childbir th and a reduction in medically unjustified cesarean sections. Plans were agreed upon to develop 45 centers and integrated hospitals in the first phase, converting them into specialized Centers of Excellence for maternal and neonatal care.El-Alfy affirmed that improving the quality of primary health care is the cornerstone for addressing key health challenges, particularly reducing cesarean section rates, enhancing neonatal care, and safeguarding every child's right to optimal care during the 'first thousand golden days.'