Egypt affirmed its keenness to transfer its health expertise to African countries. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said Egypt would be declared within the coming few days or weeks free from Hepatitis C following the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Speaking at the second edition of Africa Health ExCon in Cairo under the theme "Your Gate to Innovation and Trade," Sisi highlighted the importance of Egyptian initiatives in preserving the health of citizens.
He indicated that Egypt has tried to address the large population growth of 105 million people and the lack of hospitals by launching health initiatives.
Africa Health ExCon, the largest annual Medical Exhibition and conference in Africa, was established as the continental hub of health innovation and trade in Africa and the Middle East.
It is Africa and Egypt's gateway towards innovation and trade, as an annual meeting between global and African medical companies.
Sisi stressed that health initiatives try to solve complex challenges to improve people's lives from a health perspective.
The President noted that the "Ending waiting lists" initiative was presented four years ago, with about 12,000 cases, but the number now increased to 1.9 million patients, appreciating the civil society organizations and bodies for their donations.
Addressing the conference, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Technology Management (AUPP) Bahaaeddine Zeidan said the second Africa Health ExCon conference is a gathering for all medical experts to exchange expertise, clinching deals, and getting briefed on the latest developments.
During the opening session, the conference included a documentary depicting the challenges facing the African continent in the healthcare sector due to imbalances in supply chains and high costs.
Director of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Jean Kaseya voiced confidence in his authority's potential in the medical field and Egypt's prominent role in bolstering ties with Africa.
Addressing the conference, Kaseya said the coronavirus pandemic claimed lives, and African nations effectively confronted the virus.
He noted that African conferences are essential to developing the medical and technological sector, especially in vaccine production.
Health Minister Khaled Abdul-Ghafar asserted that Egyptian authorities established advanced hospitals and health centers in all governorates to achieve social justice.
Abdul-Ghafar noted that 965 health projects cost about EGP91 billion, explaining that the new medical facilities cost the state about EGP37 billion to establish 53 new hospitals in various governorates.
The minister explained that they were short- and long-term paths followed within Egypt's health sector development, including the 14 presidential initiatives valued at EGP32 billion, which served 92 million citizens.
