In a landmark moment for public health, Egypt has become the first country in the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to meet the global hepatitis B control target, setting a powerful precedent for disease elimination through national coordination, innovation, and political will.

This milestone, officially recognized at a high-profile ceremony in Cairo, signals a transformative shift in the region’s fight against hepatitis B, with Egypt reducing the disease’s prevalence among children under five to below 1%, the threshold defined by WHO for effective control.

“This is a turning point in Egypt’s healthcare journey, It reflects our national commitment to prevention, immunization, and universal health coverage, in alignment with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s vision for health security,” said Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, as he received WHO’s official certificate confirming the achievement.

According to surveys spanning 2008 to 2024, Egypt has recorded a 15% decline in hepatitis B among people under 60 since 2015. Among children under ten, the drop is even more dramatic, 50%. 

These numbers reflect more than a decade of determined action, led by Egypt’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which consistently delivered over 95% coverage, offering free hepatitis B vaccines to all newborns regardless of nationality.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director, praised Egypt’s approach as “a model for comprehensive and sustained public health strategy,” highlighting over 90% coverage for the third-dose vaccine for more than ten years, and reliable delivery of the critical birth dose for the past five.

Key to the nation’s success has been targeted outreach to high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, dialysis patients, and people living with HIV, as well as significant investment in digital infrastructure to improve vaccine tracking and equity of access.

Beyond prevention, Egypt has also focused on long-term sustainability. Through the launch of the Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance (EVMA), the country is now ramping up domestic vaccine production, reducing dependency on the global supply chain, and reinforcing its pandemic preparedness.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the full backing of Egypt’s political leadership and the close coordination among state institutions,” said Hesham Sateet, Head of the Unified Procurement Authority.

Ali El-Ghamrawy, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority, echoed the sentiment, noting that Egypt’s regulatory strength and local manufacturing capacity are now integral to the country’s Vision 2030 health goals and its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

“The Egyptian experience proves that with strategic planning, institutional coordination, and political will, even complex public health challenges can be overcome,” Abdel Ghaffar concluded.