Prof. Dr. Sherif Saleh, President of Port Said University, received Prof. Dr. Abla El-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health and Population and Supervisor of the National Population Council, to discuss activating joint cooperation in implementing the urgent population and development plan and curbing uncontrolled population growth.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Kamel, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development.
The University President affirmed Port Said University’s readiness to activate a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Health and Population. This includes operating health counseling units at Port Said University Hospital, launching medical and development campaigns, and engaging students in spreading health and population awareness both inside and outside the university, in addition to providing free reproductive health and population counseling services in line with the national plan.
For her part, Dr. Abla El-Alfy congratulated the University President on the opening of the University Hospital, praising the capabilities of the Faculty of Medicine and the university hospital, and emphasizing the importance of activating counseling units, improving prenatal and postnatal services, and raising awareness about birth spacing to enhance population indicators.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Deputy Minister toured the Faculty of Medicine in the presence of:
Prof. Dr. Ehab El-Hanafy, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine;
Prof. Dr. Thanaa Abdel-Azim, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing;
Prof. Dr. Asmaa Nabil, Executive Director of the University Hospital;
Prof. Dr. Heba Youssef, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research and Supervisor of the Health Sector; and several department heads.
During the expanded meeting, an analysis of birth and mortality data for Port Said Governorate (Population and Development Plan 2023–2025) was reviewed. The analysis included indicators such as birth rates, neonatal mortality, divorce rates, total fertility rate, and natural versus cesarean deliveries, within a system comprising 29 composite indicators to measure population growth.
Dr. Abla El-Alfy emphasized the pivotal role of Port Said University in supporting national efforts through training programs, awareness and media campaigns, and engagement via social media platforms, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population.
