Egypt leads Eastern Mediterranean Region in Hepatitis B eradication

EGYPT—Egypt has become the first country in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet the WHO target for hepatitis B control, a milestone officially celebrated in a ceremony held in Cairo.

At the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, received a formal certificate from WHO recognizing Egypt’s success in reducing hepatitis B prevalence among children and sustaining high vaccine coverage.

According to national surveys conducted between 2008 and 2024, hepatitis B prevalence among people under 60 years old has dropped by 15% since 2015.

More impressively, the rate among children under ten has fallen by 50%, and the prevalence among children under five is now below 1%—the threshold WHO sets for hepatitis B control.

This achievement reflects Egypt’s strong commitment to public health and immunization.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, praised Egypt’s public health infrastructure and long-term dedication to vaccination programs.

She highlighted that Egypt has maintained over 90% coverage of the hepatitis B third-dose vaccine for more than a decade and has consistently achieved over 90% coverage for the birth dose in the last five years.

Egypt’s success is largely due to its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which provides free hepatitis B vaccines to all newborns, regardless of nationality, with coverage rates exceeding 95%.

The program also ensures that infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers receive immediate birth doses and hepatitis B immunoglobulin to prevent transmission.

Furthermore, immunization efforts have expanded to high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, dialysis patients, people living with HIV, and household contacts of hepatitis B carriers.

These efforts were supported by digital upgrades that improved vaccine tracking, reduced waste, and ensured equitable access across the country.

Beyond vaccination, Egypt has taken strategic steps to secure its vaccine supply by launching the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance (EVMA), which aims to localize vaccine production and strengthen the domestic supply chain.

This initiative is part of Egypt’s broader health system sustainability goals aligned with Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Key government officials emphasized the importance of political leadership and institutional coordination in achieving this milestone.

 Hesham Sateet, Head of the Unified Procurement Authority, noted that transparent and efficient procurement mechanisms were crucial, while Ali El-Ghamrawy, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority, stressed the role of local manufacturing and regulatory governance in Egypt’s health strategy.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar expressed gratitude to frontline health workers and international partners who supported Egypt’s journey, stating that this milestone proves that with strategic planning, political will, and coordinated health policies, even complex public health challenges can be overcome.

He described the achievement as a turning point that reflects Egypt’s dedication to prevention, immunization, and universal health coverage in line with the vision of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.