Health: Over 20 Million Citizens Screened Under the Early Detection Initiative for Chronic Diseases

The Ministry of Health and Population announced that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's initiative for the early detection of chronic diseases and kidney impairment has screened 20,168,842 citizens across the republic since its launch in September 2021 until now.

Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the ministry, explained that the initiative is implemented through 3,601 primary healthcare units in the governorates, primarily targeting citizens over the age of 40, in addition to young people aged 18 and above with a medical history of chronic diseases, aiming for early diagnosis and providing free, quality healthcare.

Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that citizens undergo comprehensive examinations that include measuring blood pressure, random and cumulative blood sugar levels, fat percentages, kidney functions, and body mass index, along with awareness sessions on risk factors and a follow-up program based on the results of the initial examination.

He added that cases confirmed to have high blood pressure or diabetes are provided with monthly medications for free from the same unit, while cases requiring advanced care are referred to hospitals for continued treatment at no cost, contributing to reducing the risks of chronic kidney failure.

He noted that the initiative relies on the latest global guidelines prepared by a joint scientific committee between the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, with continuous training for medical teams on early detection devices for kidney impairment. In case of confirmed diagnosis, the patient is directly referred to the hospital for complete treatment at the initiative's expense.

The ministry's spokesperson urged citizens suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes, or those with a family medical history, to visit the nearest health unit to benefit from the initiative's services, emphasizing that early detection remains the most important means to avoid serious complications.