The Ministry of Health and Population has announced that more than 1.6 million students underwent examination as part of the national initiative for early detection of Hepatitis C among first-year elementary school students during the academic year 2023/2024. This initiative, conducted free of charge, operates under the slogan "100 Million Health." Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the current year's goal is to examine over two million first-year elementary school students and provide treatment for patients. The initiative achieved a completion rate of 76.4% of its target for the current year. Mohamed Dhahi, President of the General Authority for Health Insurance, emphasized that the examination is carried out by highly trained medical teams affiliated with the General Authority for Health Insurance, using rapid reagents. Dhahi also highlighted cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, as well as Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, to ensure the campaign's smooth execution without disrupting the educational process. Parental approval is obtained for conducting examinations and treatment. Furthermore, Heba Said, the general coordinator of the initiative at the General Authority for Health Insurance, explained that positive cases among examined students are referred to the 24 liver committees located in branches of the General Authority for Health Insurance across the country. These committees conduct specialized examinations and analyses following approved protocols, with pediatricians trained in the treatment protocol.
