The second phase of the presidency-initiated programme on women's health, which started on a short-term basis in July, kicked off on Saturday in Cairo.

The programme provides free tests for the early detection of breast tumours, measuring blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass in hospitals and health units.

The second phase will cover the governorates of North Sinai, the Red Sea, Ismailia, Suez, Kafr El-Sheikh, Menoufiya, Beni Suef, Sohag, Luxor and Aswan.

The first phase was launched in July 2019 in nine governorates: South Sinai, Damietta, Port Said, Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Beheira, Fayoum, Assiut, and Qalioubiya.

The programme, which is an extension of the 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign, started in July as a short-term initiative, before the government has decided to turn it into a permanent effort.

According to the Ministry of Health, the first phase had served over 2 million women as of late September.

According to Ahmed El-Sayed Morsy, executive director of the programme, the initiative aims to serve 28 million women annually.

Morsy explained that work will continue in the nine governorates of the first phase alongside the 11 governorates of the second. The programme targets women above the age of 18, and will focus on reproductive health, non-communicable disease and tumours, especially breast cancer.