Egypt's Deputy Health Minister Abla Al-Alfi on Thursday held an extended meeting with provincial health directors and World Bank representatives to review implementation mechanisms for the Urgent Plan for Population and Development, as per a Cabinet statement. The discussion also covered the national programme for the prevention of malnutrition and stunting, in line with presidential initiative, A New Beginning for Building the Egyptian Person. The plan, based on 29 demographic indicators including health, education, birth and mortality rates, and population density, classifies governorates into red (high-need), yellow (moderate), and green (stable) zones. Running over 1,000 days, it includes a pilot phase from October to December 2024, followed by full implementation from 2025 to 2027, with evaluations every 100 days. The goal is to shift red zones to green by improving health services and population outcomes. Discussions also focused on strengthening counselling services to combat child malnutrition, supporting pregnant and breastfeeding women, and reducing stunting, anaemia, and wasting. Al-Alfi stressed the importance of midwives in hospitals to reduce unnecessary caesarean births and promote family planning awareness. The meeting also addressed expanding mother and child-friendly facilities, reducing stunting by 25 per cent within three years, quarterly check-ups for pregnant women, and establishing clinics for nutrition, child development, asthma, high-risk pregnancies, geriatrics, and chronic disease. Plans include training healthcare workers and improving work conditions, while expanding access to specialised care for children with disabilities nationwide. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
