Alexandria's African Center Bolsters Health Cooperation at Africa Day Event

Alexandria, Egypt — Ekhbary News Agency

The African Center for Women's Health Services in Alexandria took part in the "Africa Day" celebration, an event organized by the National Council for Women under the theme "Africa… One Heart, One Future." Counselor Amal Ammar presided over the gathering, which saw the attendance of Naglaa Abdelsalam, wife of the Foreign Minister, alongside a distinguished group of leaders and public figures concerned with women's issues and health development across the African continent.

African Women's Health: Challenges and Stark Statistics

Dr. Mervat El-Sayed, Director of the Center, outlined the primary health challenges confronting African women. She cited World Health Organization data indicating that over 700 women die daily worldwide from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications, equating to approximately one death every two minutes. Sub-Saharan African nations, it goes without saying, bear the brunt of this crisis, accounting for nearly 70% of global maternal deaths. Despite a roughly 40% reduction in maternal mortality rates on the continent since 2000, Africa still records around 442 deaths per 100,000 live births, particularly prevalent in rural and conflict-affected regions with inadequate health services.

Egypt's Pioneering Initiatives for Women's Health

Dr. El-Sayed also highlighted Egypt's robust experience in supporting women's health through various presidential health initiatives. These programs have adopted an integrated healthcare approach for women across all life stages, from early detection campaigns for anemia, obesity, and stunting in schoolchildren to adolescent health support and the "Support Egyptian Women's Health" initiative. The "Mother and Fetus Health Care" initiative, for instance, successfully screened over 3.25 million pregnant women for early detection of mother-to-fetus transmitted diseases. Furthermore, the "100 Million Health" initiative stands as one of the largest global preventive campaigns, while the "Decent Life" initiative plays a crucial role in enhancing health services in rural and most-needed areas. Egypt's proactive stance underscores its commitment to regional health leadership.