26 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held a closing event for a joint project supporting COVID-19 response activities and strengthening the One Health approach in Egypt. The project was led by the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and the Ministry of International Cooperation.
WHO worked closely with Egypt’s health authorities, led by the MOHP, over the two years of the project which was supported by US$ 11 million in funding from the United States government through USAID.
Between March 2022 and June 2024, the project accelerated equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and reduced morbidity and mortality by mitigating transmission and strengthening the health system’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to pandemic threats.
During the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Dr Khaled Abdelghaffar hailed the success of joint efforts between the Ministry, USAID and WHO to build a healthier and more resilient society. While the pandemic had put health systems to the test everywhere, he said, it had also shown the commitment of Egypt’s political leadership to the health and well-being of its citizens.
The project increased the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, improved cold chains, expanded risk communication and community engagement, enhanced the safety of injections, monitored adverse events following immunization, integrated COVID-19 vaccinations into the national immunization programme, supported surveillance activities, strengthened infection prevention and control measures, reduced antimicrobial resistance, supported biosecurity and biosafety in laboratories and improved case management.
The project also built the capacities of health care workers, developed guidelines, generated scientific evidence, automated national databases and supported activities to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including the MOHP’s national door-knocking campaign and the Egyptian Red Crescent’s (ERC) medical convoys.
In her speech, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Dr Rania Al-Mashat commended the ways in which the partnership between national entities and international partners had enhanced the health system's response in Egypt by meeting urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investing in human capital is a fundamental pillar of development, she said, and a key focus of the strategic partnership framework between Egypt and the United Nations is to enhance human capital through equal access to quality services and social protection by 2027.
Medical supplies worth US$ 4 million were provided to the Egyptian health system, including personal protective equipment, cold chain equipment, information technology equipment to support digitization, and laboratory supplies.
The project adopted a holistic approach, collaborating with a range of partners including the Egyptian Drug Authority, Egypt Healthcare Authority, the ERC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Local Development, alongside UN agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
WHO Representative to Egypt Dr Nima Abid said: "The collaboration between WHO, the Ministry of Health, USAID and partners reflects our deep commitment to improving public health and strengthening the response to health emergencies. This project came at a critical time, when countries needed to mobilize all their capabilities to respond to the pandemic. The project not only succeeded in strengthening Egypt's response to the COVID-19 pandemic but contributed to strengthening the resilience of the Egyptian health system and supporting its capacities in the early detection and response to future health threats. We are proud of what has been achieved and are committed to continuing to work together to address health challenges."
According to USAID Mission Director for Egypt Sean Jones: “Robust and ongoing collaboration between USAID, WHO, and the Government of Egypt continues to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to pandemic diseases. Together, we remain committed to building on this progress and addressing future health challenges with even greater preparedness.”
