In an attempt to cater to healthcare needs of deprived women in Upper Egypt, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity and Rotary Club of Heliopolis on Sunday signed a cooperation protocol to establish a floating hospital that moves across Upper Nile governorates.
Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali, in her speech at the signing ceremony, said “the project is new and innovative and provides a range of health and social services for women and children.”
“The project, along with the health services it provides, will contribute to social development and will play a role in tourism through highlighting the beauty of the landscape and marinas on the Nile.”
Nearly one million women are set out to benefit from healthcare support funds put forth by the initiative which is a part of the Takaful and Karama project.
The project that the Ministry of Social Solidarity is implementing provides financial assistance to families in need after they meet minimum requirements.
According to a ministry report last month, up to 2.2 million families, half of whom reside in Upper Egypt, benefited from Takaful and Karama programs.
The floating hospital is scheduled to be operational from March 1 until the end of April. It will travel to Upper Egypt with a number of specialized clinics and a full medical team.
“It includes 18 clinics for different specialties of pediatrics, nose, ear, heart, bones, chest, skin, etc., as well as a laboratory, pharmacy and drug store,” said Abdulhamid Al Awa, an Upper Egypt governor.
“The hospital aims to raise awareness of one million women, and provide medical examination and treatment for at least 50,000 cases, and provide some 10,000 training programs, and offer community support for another 200,000 individuals,” Al Awa said.
The hospital will be running health and social services in 8 governorates: Aswan, Luxor, Sohag, Qena, Assiut, Minya, Beni Suef and Giza. The programs offered will cover social awareness regarding nutrition, cancer and Hepatitis C virus.