Dr. Abla El Alfi, Deputy Minister of Health and Population, held a meeting with Dr. Hassan El Naamani, President of Sohag University, to discuss enhancing the university’s role in reducing unnecessary cesarean deliveries and neonatal mortality in the governorate. This is part of the presidential initiative “The First 1000 Days” aimed at developing Egyptian families and improving health indicators for mothers and children. Dr. El Alfi praised the fruitful cooperation with the university and thanked Dr. El Naamani for his support of the initiative. A broad committee including relevant ministries and universities was formed to ensure the availability of free family planning methods, especially long-term ones. Training for midwives is being expanded with the start of the Egyptian Midwifery Board program in cooperation with the International Council of Nurses, introducing this specialization at the bachelor’s level for the first time in Egypt. Dr.

El Naamani highlighted the importance of the initiative in raising health awareness, providing family planning services immediately after birth, and training youth as peer counselors. The meeting also discussed a cooperation protocol focusing on promoting safe natural childbirth culture, reducing complications from cesarean deliveries, improving population characteristics, and enhancing neonatal care units according to the latest global protocols to improve outcomes and reduce mortality rates. The university is intensifying its field efforts through developmental and medical convoys within the “Decent Life” initiative for the most needy villages, through awareness seminars focusing on reproductive health, integrated counseling, and raising awareness about population issues and initiative goals, with a commitment to intensify these activities within the cooperation framework.