Over 29,000 Schools to Screen Students for Malnutrition Across Egypt

Primary school students at more than 29,000 public and private schools across Egypt will undergo malnutrition screenings throughout the academic year as part of the presidential initiative for the early detection of anaemia, obesity and stunting.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the programme covers Egyptian and non-Egyptian pupils in all governorates. Medical teams will measure students' weight, height and haemoglobin levels to identify nutrition-related conditions at an early stage.

Students requiring further assessment will be referred to health insurance clinics to complete additional examinations and receive treatment free of charge. Each student will also receive a follow-up card containing their personal information to support ongoing monitoring.

The ministry said around 2,000 trained medical teams are carrying out the screenings while following infection control and preventive protocols. The checks will be conducted throughout the school year to avoid overcrowding, while health education teams will provide students with guidance on healthy practices.

Since the initiative was launched in 2019, more than 71.9 million medical examinations have been carried out for primary school students through the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.