Cairo – Today the Egyptian Ministry of Health released the results of the Health Issues Survey component of the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).  The U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund, completed this survey to gain relevant data to support informed decision-making on Egypt’s key health concerns.

“This survey provides critical data to detect health trends and issues,” said Dr. William Patterson, USAID/Egypt Acting Deputy Mission Director.  “Through support from the American people, Egypt now has nearly thirty years of data documenting its progress in improving the health of women and children, including child mortality, vaccination coverage, nutritional status, and maternal health care.”

Globally, USAID has supported more than 300 demographic and health surveys in 90 countries.  Since 1988, USAID has provided support for ten rounds of the survey in Egypt.  This research provides reliable information on population, health, and nutritional status at the national and governorate levels.  The second phase of the survey is currently underway and is examining specific health issues of importance to Egypt, including viral hepatitis and key non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Over nearly forty years, the U.S. government through USAID has worked with the Egyptian people to achieve significant, positive results that have improved the lives of millions.  In addition to helping to eliminate polio, the American people have contributed to health projects that have led to an 80 percent reduction in infant mortality; job creation projects that have led to new or better full-time employment for over 40,000 people over the past two years; and infrastructure projects that have provided water, electricity, and telephone services to nearly all of Egypt.  These projects are part of the nearly $30 billion that the American people, through USAID, have invested in Egypt since 1975.