Cairo: The Ministry of Health and Population has organized two technical and medical workshops for healthcare workers focused on combating leprosy, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These workshops are part of the ministry's broader plan to eradicate leprosy by 2030.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil emphasized the importance of enhancing the skills of medical personnel in diagnosis and treatment to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services. This effort aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by improving surveillance, early detection, and effective treatment.

Kandil highlighted the necessity of ongoing professional training and capacity-building programs, leveraging the expertise of WHO specialists to apply the highest international standards. Dr. Rady Hammad, Head of the Preventive Medicine Sector at the Ministry of Health, stated that the workshops are being conducted in two phases, aiming to train 36 laboratory technicians and 110 endemic disease directors, leprosy officers, and dermatologists from across all governorates. He noted that a practical training day would be held at a dermatology clinic in Cairo, adhering to the latest international guidelines.

Carlos Oliver Cruz, Chief of Mission of IOM Egypt, expressed pride in the collaboration, noting that it supports national efforts to eliminate leprosy and improve access to early detection and treatment services. He lauded the Health Ministry's initiatives to reach the most vulnerable populations.

Dr. Nahla Gamal El-Din, Infectious Diseases Representative at the WHO Egypt Office, remarked that eliminating leprosy starts with building well-trained health cadres capable of timely patient outreach. She stressed that effective partnerships between national and international stakeholders are crucial for successfully addressing health challenges.

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed that knowledge, continuous training, and international partnerships are foundational to achieving a healthier future where human dignity is safeguarded and the right to health is guaranteed for all, as they continue to implement the national plan to eliminate leprosy by 2030.