By Nneka Nwogwugwu
A campaign for screening Egypt citizens for nutritional deficiency will be launched in October, Minister of Health and Population, Hala Zayad stated on Tuesday.
The government stated that the campaign will be implemented through medical caravans, and the first phase consists of one third of rural villages, particularly those located in Upper Egypt.
It is noted that a similar campaign was launched three years ago to screen schoolchildren for anemia, stunting, and obesity three years ago.
Zayed underscored during the inauguration of “Silo Foods” that the ministry managed to grant children diagnosed with anemia dietary supplements. As for stunting, she added that needs for growth hormone among Egyptian stunted children are fulfilled by 100 percent.
The minister pointed out that stunting does not just affect the height but also makes the child vulnerable to becoming diabetic.
Zayed added that the rate of stunting has not improved while that of obesity has risen among children so as only anemia declined.
Regarding disparities in anemia rates among governorates, the prevalence is higher in Upper Egyptian ones, mainly Asyut and Sohag.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi also asked the minister to launch a check-up program for women wanting to get pregnant to determine if they suffer from nutritional deficiency.
