Cairo: The Ministry of Health and Population announced that 792,592 newborns have been screened under the presidential initiative for the early detection of genetic diseases. Launched in July 2021 as part of the '100 Million Healthy Lives' campaign, the initiative aims to establish a healthy generation by eliminating preventable causes of disability.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the initiative's first phase targets 19 genetic diseases in premature infants within neonatal intensive care units at ministry hospitals. Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the second phase would involve comprehensive screenings of all newborns at health units across the nation.

Screenings are conducted by taking a simple blood sample from the infant's heel, which is then analyzed at the laboratories of the Egyptian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Egyptian CDC). These laboratories are equipped with advanced international technologies to ensure accurate results. In cases where a screening result is positive, the infant is promptly referred for confirmatory testing and receives free treatment based on the latest scientific protocols.

The initiative targets diseases such as congenital hypothyroidism, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (favism), phenylketonuria, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, among others. The Ministry has also collaborated with the Supreme Council of University Hospitals to establish 56 specialized centers dedicated to the treatment and follow-up of genetic diseases in newborns.