Egypt's health accreditation authority will introduce new standards for mother-and-child-friendly hospitals aimed at reducing unnecessary caesarean sections and promoting breastfeeding as part of a national family health strategy, it said Monday. Ahmed Taha, head of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR), said the framework supports President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's family development plan and is designed to improve maternal and child health in line with international best practices. The guidelines, covering hospitals and primary health units, will set protocols for integrated care before, during and after pregnancy. GAHAR will provide training and technical assistance to help facilities comply, Taha said. The draft standards were reviewed at a meeting in the new administrative capital attended by Deputy Health Minister for Population Affairs Abla El-Alfi, as well as experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. One key focus is reducing Egypt's high rate of unnecessary caesarean deliveries, the authority said. The framework also aims to strengthen breastfeeding practices in line with WHO and UNICEF recommendations. The new standards are expected to be finalised and rolled out in the coming period, GAHAR said. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama Subediting: Y.Yasser
