The launch of the activities of the Fourth Annual International Conference on Public Health, hosted by Ain Shams University

The activities of the Fourth Annual International Public Health Conference, entitled "Health Justice, the Roadmap to Universal Health Coverage", which is organized by Ain Shams University in cooperation with the African Institute of Public Health Specialists (ALPHP), the Association of African Universities of North African Countries, and Galala University, were launched under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Khaled Abdel Al-Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, in Al-Mahlawi Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.

The opening of the conference witnessed Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Shennawy, Acting President of Galala University, Prof. Dr. Bahaa El-Din Zaidan, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Supply and Medical Supplies, prof. Dr. Naima Al-Qaseer, representative of the World Health Organization in Egypt, Dr. Ayodele Bankole James, Executive Director of the African Institute of Public Health Professionals, Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Mahrasawy, former president of Al-Azhar University and vice-president of the Association of African Universities of North African Countries, prof. Dr. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Amani Al-Sharif, Director of the Regional Office for North Africa of the Association of African Universities, Prof. Dr. Osama Mansour, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University for Postgraduate Studies and Research and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Conference, prof. Dr. And Jaida Anwar, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Conference.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, welcomed the attendees participating in the conference activities, stressing Ain Shams University's pride in hosting this important event.

He added that healthcare services are undergoing a major transformation, in light of the many challenges, including population growth and the increase in the spread of chronic diseases.

Also touched on Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini to Ain Shams Virtual Hospital, stressing that with the flourishing of technological innovations; We now have an unprecedented opportunity to maximize cooperation across borders, so that a Nigerian doctor can obtain the health record of an Egyptian patient, and a Sudanese doctor can assist a patient in Kenya within an integrated health care network.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini also spoke on the Cop27 climate conference, which is currently being hosted by Egypt, and dealt with the distinguished activities of Ain Shams University during the conference, pointing out the great connection of this conference with public health, expressing his pride in Egypt hosting the Cop27 conference and the important events included in the conference.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Shennawy, Acting President of Galala University, thanked all those in charge of the conference and Ain Shams University for hosting this important conference, noting that Galala University will host a workshop next Thursday on the sidelines of the conference.

He stressed that there are many challenges facing African countries, including Egypt, especially in the health file, which requires the cooperation of all African countries, pointing out that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi focused on relations with African countries, and extending the bonds of friendship and cooperation.

He also touched on the new republic, and that within the framework of building the modern Egyptian state, there were files that received attention, including scientific research and health.

Prof. Dr. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, stressed the keenness of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University to provide the best medical service to its students, referring to Ain Shams Medical City as part of the development of the healthcare system in Egypt.

After the opening remarks to the attendees, Dr. Ayodele Bankole James, Executive Director of the African Institute of Public Health Professionals honored Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Shennawy, Acting President of Galala University, and Prof. Dr. Bakri Saeed Othman, President of the Association of African Universities of North African Countries, and it was received by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Al-Mahrasawy, Vice President of the Federation.

After the first session started with the participation of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, during which he talked about the health system in Egypt, where shed light on the current situation of the health system in Egypt and the challenges facing it, also dealt with the bodies that provide medical services in Egypt, indicating that the Ministry Health and Population is the largest medical service provider in Egypt, University hospitals, and hospitals affiliated with government agencies such as ministries, agencies, and private sector hospitals.

He explained the problems facing the current health insurance system and dealt with Egypt's Vision 2030, presidential initiatives in the field of health, and the 100 Million Health Campaign. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini also reviewed the roles of bodies such as the Unified Procurement and Supply Authority, the Medical Technology Department, and the Egyptian Medicines Authority...., as he spoke. About health care and the volume of spending on the health system and that it witnessed an increase over previous years.

The session also dealt with the health system in Sudan and Nigeria.

The activities of the first day also witnessed a session on the health insurance law in Egypt and other countries and its ability to achieve comprehensive health coverage in Africa. Discussions were held among the attendees to exchange visions and experiences.

And Prof. Dr. Wajida Anwar gave a lecture on the new health insurance law in Egypt and the difference between it and the old system in developing the health service, which depends on separating the financing of the service from its provision, with an emphasis on the quality of health care.

It also provided an explanation of the bodies that will implement the new health insurance law, namely the Comprehensive Health Insurance Authority, the Health Care Authority, and the Health Accreditation and Control Authority, as well as shedding light on how to manage the health service through the various bodies.

It is scheduled to participate in the activities of the second day, global health expert, Dr. Awad Matarieh, head of the department responsible for universal health coverage and the health system in the WHO regional office, where will address the health system's ability to adapt and its flexibility in dealing with crises such as the Corona pandemic.

There will also be a continuation of the discussion sessions on strengthening human resources for the entire health team, in addition to following up the sessions and discussions to come up with recommendations that benefit the health community and those in charge of the various health systems to benefit from the experiences of the participants in the conference.

It is noteworthy that, on the sidelines of the conference, two workshops will be held at Ain Shams University, the first entitled "Resilience of the health system to withstand crises such as the Corona pandemic," during which models for African countries will be reviewed, and students from Ain Shams University will make a presentation on the ability of the Egyptian health system to adapt to the crisis of the Corona pandemic.

The other workshop will be on "Neglected Tropical Diseases". Diseases endemic in those regions will be reviewed, as well as methods of prevention and control, as well as models from different countries, including Egypt, with the participation of experts from Africa.

On Thursday, after the conference, a workshop will be held at Galala University on the impact of climate change on health, in the presence of the Nigerian delegation and a group of Egyptian experts interested in climate change and its impact on health, organized by Prof. Dr. Jihan Mahmoud, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at Galala University.

The opening of the conference was witnessed by Prof. Dr. Hala Sweed, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Dr. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector at the University, Prof. Dr. Tariq Youssef, Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals, Prof. Dr. Samia Abdou, Deputy Executive Director of Hospitals and Director of Infection Control, and a group of faculty and participants from Nigeria.