This project is part of several health and social programmes aimed at improving the quality of life for workers and their families by providing reproductive health and family planning services within the factories.
The project was implemented in partnership with the Egyptian Chamber of Apparel and Home Textile Industries (ECAHT), which represents the garment sector. The sector employs over 1.5 million workers, at least 60 percent of whom are women.
The project was also carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, which provided a mobile clinic offering the workers family planning and reproductive health services.
Dr Hajjeh was welcomed by Mr Ayman Abdel-Aziz, head of the Central Department of Alexandria Free Zone; Dr Hani Kaddah, executive director of the ECAHT; Mr Ihab Mohie, chairman of the Investors’ Association and Board Chairman at Alex Apparels; and Dr Shaimaa Gamal El-Din, director of the Mobile Clinics Programme at the Central Administration for Family Development at the Ministry of Health.
Dr Hajjeh began her visit by touring the health facilities affiliated with the project. She then met with officials from the investment zone, factories, and service providers involved in reproductive health and family planning.
During the tour, she received a detailed explanation of the programme activities, which included counselling sessions, access to various family planning methods, and awareness raising on the importance of reproductive health and family planning. She also engaged in discussions with workers about their challenges and ways to improve the services’ efficiency.
During the visit, Dr Hajjeh spoke with the project beneficiaries, listening to their experiences and feedback on the services provided. The programme has significantly improved health awareness among the workers and helped families plan their lives better.
On the other hand, Mr Mohie highlighted the programme’s return on investment, noting its positive impact on productivity and workforce stability, as it helps improve employees’ attendance during working hours.
Furthermore, several beneficiaries stressed the importance of having reproductive health and family planning services available at the workplace, as it saves them time and cost compared to seeking those services outside the workplace.
At the end of the visit, Dr Hajjeh reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the collaboration between governmental and private entities to ensure the sustainability of such projects.
She also emphasized the need to develop more initiatives focused on workers’ health and their families, noting that family planning is not just a health issue but also contributes to economic and social stability.
The visit ended with a key outcome — an agreement with the Investors’ Association to expand these services to include all factories within the investment zone.
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