84K people screened under new presidential initiative for pre-marriage check-up in single month

CAIRO – 29 March 2023: Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday screening 84,000 young Egyptians and non-Egyptians in the first month of a presidential initiative for pre-marriage checkup.

The initiative, launched in February 26 under the slogan of “100 Million Healthy Lives,” has so far issued 58,000 secured health certificates with QR codes for those planning to marry.

The certificates are valid for six months since the day of issuance and examinations must be carried out at least 14 days before marriage in order for the couples to obtain the certificate, the ministry noted.

During Ramadan, the initiative is available for couples from 9 AM to 1 PM. The ministry also responds to inquiries about the initiative via the hotline 15335 or the website of 100 Million Health Lives.

On 26 February, the Health Ministry announced putting into effect the presidential initiative for pre-marriage medical tests of couples.

The initiative falls within the framework of efforts to render Egypt free from communicable diseases transmitted between spouses, reduce death rates resulting from non-communicable diseases and curb genetic diseases in future generations.

The ministry's Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said the initiative targets Egyptians inside the country and abroad.

People can undergo check-ups in 300 medical units nationwide.

The initiative adds new medical tests to the obligatory pre-marriage examinations in effect for more than two decades, including tests for HIV and other infectious diseases.