Egypt will launch a national programme for the early detection and treatment of childhood cancers in January 2027, with an estimated cost of EGP 1.8bn and a target of reducing diagnosis times by at least 20%, the Ministry of Health and Population said.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar reviewed the final preparations for the “Noor Saghir” initiative, which the ministry described as Egypt’s first integrated national programme dedicated to the early detection of childhood cancers.
The programme will cover children from birth to 18 years of age, initially focusing on six cancers identified by the initiative as common and highly treatable: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms tumour, low-grade glioma and retinoblastoma.
The ministry said screening for warning signs would be integrated into existing healthcare services, including vaccination visits, growth monitoring, hearing tests and school health examinations, rather than relying solely on referrals after symptoms have advanced.
More than 25,000 healthcare workers are expected to receive training to recognise potential warning signs and make appropriate referrals.
Screening procedures will vary according to age. They will include red-reflex eye examinations for newborns and infants, checks during vaccination and growth-monitoring visits for children under five, and periodic examinations through school health clinics for older children.
The ministry also plans to expand the programme’s coverage to rural and remote health units to improve access to early detection services.
The initiative will operate through a three-tier healthcare system, starting with primary healthcare units and school clinics, followed by early-diagnosis clinics and, where necessary, specialist cancer centres for confirmation of diagnosis and treatment.
The ministry said each child presenting with suspected warning signs would be monitored throughout the referral process until a diagnosis is established and treatment begins.
The programme will also provide families with information and guidance through hotline 15335 and coordinate treatment with Egypt’s health insurance system and specialised paediatric oncology centres.
Abdel Ghaffar also directed the establishment of a dedicated psychological support mechanism for children and their families throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.
