Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed announced, on Sunday, the launch of 10 convoys providing family planning and reproductive health services in 30 villages in seven governorates.
The convoys are set to commence its activities from Sunday, and will last until 28 July. The move comes as part of the “Our Better Days” initiative, which will provide free family planning services and means to beneficiaries in villages and deprived areas.
The initiative falls within the Ministry of Health and Population’s plan to reduce population growth, improve public health, and achieve Egypt’s Vision 2023.
The convoys were launched in Minya, Qena, Luxor, Daqahleya, Damietta, Assiut, and Fayoum, with each convoy scheduled to roam three villages in the same governorate over three consecutive days.
Hossam Abbas, Head of the ministry’s Population and Family Planning Sector, said that these convoys will be launched on 4 and 5 July in: the villages of Mansha’at Al-Gamal, Qasr Rashwan, and the Medical Center in the Tamiya district of Fayoum governorate; and the Bani Obaid, Bani Musa, and Al-Khayari in the Abu Qurqas district of Minya Governorate.
He added that another convoy for reproductive health will be launched on the 4, 5, and 6 July in the villages of Sheikh Issa, Karam Omran and Al-Swahili in Qena Governorate.
Abbas said that the work of the convoys will be supervised through the central teams in the Population and Family Planning Sector, and the supervision teams in the health directorates and departments.
He said that the convoys include fixed and mobile clinics that roam the villages and aim to provide family planning and reproductive health services to women of childbearing age.
Abbas noted that reproductive health services will be provided through a group of trained family planning specialists, as well as obstetricians and gynaecologists. They will sign off on medical examinations and provide means of family planning in fixed and mobile units.
