Cairo: Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar announced that 289,359,000 medical services have been provided to citizens through presidential public health initiatives since the launch of the first initiative in 2018 under the slogan '100 Million Healthy Lives.'

According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdel Ghaffar emphasized that the system, which currently comprises 16 initiatives, has provided free screening, early detection, and treatment services to people of all age groups and from all segments of society. These efforts have contributed to the early detection of diseases and improved quality of life, representing an investment in citizens' health whose impact extends to families, society, and the national economy by reducing the cost of illness and enhancing productivity.

For his part, Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the initiatives began with the effort to eliminate Hepatitis C and conduct early screening for non-communicable diseases, screening more than 60 million citizens and providing free treatment.

The initiatives subsequently expanded to include more than 71.8 million screenings of primary school students for malnutrition, including anemia, obesity, and stunting, and more than 19.4 million students as part of efforts to combat Hepatitis C and non-communicable diseases.

He explained that more than 10.2 million newborns have also been screened for the early detection of hearing impairment and hearing loss, with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and medical treatment provided as needed. Additionally, 4 million students benefited from the 'Our Children's Eyes, Our Future' initiative, which provided eyeglasses, surgical interventions, and medications.

Abdel Ghaffar added that the initiatives placed significant emphasis on women's health, recording more than 72.1 million visits under the Egyptian Women's Health Support Initiative. This included screening and early detection of breast cancer, hundreds of thousands of mammograms and biopsies, and the provision of treatment. More than 4.1 million women also benefited from the Maternal and Fetal Health Care Initiative, which screens pregnant women for infectious diseases.

The ministry spokesperson stressed that the initiatives evolved from prevention and treatment programs into strategic national investments that generate sustainable health and economic returns. Healthcare spending is no longer merely a cost, but rather an investment that reduces treatment and long-term care expenses, limits productivity losses resulting from chronic diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths, and helps preserve the workforce.