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Menna Alaa el-Din – Ahram Online
Egyptian Health ministry announced “the launch of a family planning initiative nationwide starting in May”, a statement the ministry said.
The statement comes weeks after the government said it is prioritising population growth combat after the country’s population hit 100 million.
Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said, “the programme is a part of efforts to limit population growth through family planning services already available”.
The programme will be implemented in three phases across the country, with the first phase including Cairo, Giza, Qalyoubia, Assiut, Sohag, Sharqiya, Port Said and Alexandria.
The head of the Ministry of Health and Population’s Family Planning Department Sahar el-Sonbaty said. “the programme aims to increase the use of modern contraceptives from 58.5% in 2014 to 71.6% by 2030”.
The 100 million figures do not include Egyptians living abroad, who are estimated at over 13 million.
Last year, Egypt launched a two-year initiative called ‘Two Is Enough’ to encourage people to have fewer children. Ministry of social solidarity is providing £E75 million in funding and the UN £E10 million.
