Minister of Health, Adel El-Adawi signed Monday an Egyptian Swiss joint protocol for managing medical waste in Dakahlia Governorate, in the presence of Switzerland's ambassador, Markus Leitner at the Ministry's headquarters. Al Bawabh News reported that El-Adawi explained that this protocol is considered to be the first step towards activating a comprehensive system for managing medical waste, which will be circulated to the rest of the provinces of the Republic respectively. He indicated that it is scheduled to begin activating the project this year and will continue for a period of 4 years. He pointed out that this project, which amounts to a cost of 9.8 million Swiss francs, of which the Swiss side contributes with 9.2 million Swiss francs, will be held in full cooperation with the province of Dakahlia. The minister explained that the project is based on incinerating medical waste and generating electricity. He continued that this protocol is part of the package of the government's efforts during the recent period to activate the National Strategy for safe disposal of medical waste. He added that the project is building on the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee formed between a number of ministries to develop a vision for waste management in a comprehensive manner. The Ministry of Health has 5,200 health units distributed nationwide, 570 mobile clinics, and 517 hospitals, in addition to 2600 ambulances, which produce large quantities of medical waste. The history of relations between Egypt and the Swiss Confederation dates back to 1909, and witnessed past cooperation in health field. The two countries worked together regarding a project on development of hospitals and radiology units in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, aimed at supporting the health sectors development program. This was carried out in cooperation between the International Bank, USAID, and the African Development Bank, the European Union and implemented in – Menoufiya – Sohag. The costs of the first phase of the project reached 11.5 million Swiss Francs and took place during the period from 2002 to 2004.
