Egypt in race against time to achieve aspirations of citizens: Al-Sisi

State ready to bear treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients at cost of $3m per case, says Egyptian President

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has revealed that he is racing against time to achieve the long-awaited aspirations of the Egyptian people, adding that the past years have witnessed the launch of an integrated series of national projects in all fields.

In a speech marking the eighth anniversary of the 30 June Revolution, on Wednesday, Al-Sisi said that Egypt has found its way to real development, supported by the alignment of its people and continued hard work.

He stressed the need for Egyptians to unite with the state to continue this development, and achieve their aspirations.

He further noted, "This revolution embodied precious meanings and values, the most important of which is the people's ability to overcome the challenges they are exposed to, which could not have been overcome without their unity and national alignment."

"The state has faced these challenges with all its tools and forces, over the past years, whether terrorism, which the army and police forces succeeded in besieging and defeating it, or attempts to sow chaos," he added.

The President pointed out that, in parallel with these challenges, the state had to face another and greater challenge in building awareness of the reality of conditions in Egypt. This included ways to solve problems, and embark on a comprehensive development process to advance all aspects of life across the country.

Moreover, Al-Sisi announced that the government has allocated EGP 600bn to implement "Decent Life" national project to develop Egyptian rural villages within three years. A total of EGP 200bn has been given for each stage in the initiative.

The President noted that priority will be given to the national industry in implementing the national project for developing villages.

"Today is another real change in the lives of more than half of Egypt's population," he said.

During his inspection of equipment, vehicles, and engineering machinery participating in the "Decent Life" initiative, the President called on agricultural land owners to preserve the remaining land.

Al-Sisi noted that the current, ongoing land reclamation process requires a very high financial cost that strains the state's public budget, and prevents the government from directing resources to major development projects.

The President noted that the government aims to establish the New Delta by reclaiming approximately 2.5 million feddan, with cultivation set to take place at a very high cost.

This is because it requires the use of triple treatment sewage and lifting stations, which will cost the state billions of pounds.

Al-Sisi added that the current irrigation water flows naturally through the water slope from top to bottom, while the process of cultivating the New Delta requires running the water against its natural slope, needing lifting stations and a very high cost.

The President explained that the cost of constructing 15 pumping stations in Alexandria, in which the main treatment station will be established for the New Delta project, amounts to billions of pounds.

He further called on Egyptian industrialists to respond to the government in the decent life initiative, explaining that the initiative's goal is to implement an integrated programme, whether improving sanitation, drinking water, electricity, education, health, communications, and agriculture.

Furthermore, the President highlighted the issue of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), saying that there are a few cases in Egypt.

He added, "If we can detect it early, the disease has a treatment that costs $3 lm per child."

He added that the state will bear the treatment of children diagnosed with the disease, but called on organisations and everyone who is able to participate in this matter, to help bear the costs.

There is an agreement to manufacture medicines for SMA in Egypt, the President noted.

Regarding the plasma derivatives factory project, Al-Sisi said that Egypt will inaugurate its first factory for this purpose within 18 months, stressing that Egypt is free of the Hepatitis C virus.