El-Sisi's remarks came during the launch of the second edition of the Global Congress on Population, Health and Human Development (PHDC'24), held in Egypt's New Administrative Capital.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development Affairs & Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, and other senior officials attended the event.

In his remarks at the event, President El-Sisi highlighted the government's massive efforts to mitigate the pressures of population increase, including constructing new ports, airports, and road networks, expanding Egypt’s railway systems, and introducing electric-powered transportation networks.

The president said these projects helped the government tackle the persistent issue of unemployment, which currently stands at 6.5 percent.

El-Sisi noted that around 700,000 to one million students graduate annually from universities and institutions.

This creates a need for approximately the same number of jobs annually.

El-Sisi outlined the state's two-pronged approach to overcome these challenges.

The first track combines "parallel, integrated, and overlapping solutions" in a comprehensive multi-layered strategy.

The second revolves around maintaining a clear focus on national goals, regardless of emerging obstacles or crises.

The president also referenced Egypt's security and political challenges a decade ago and how the government responded.

He said: "The country was in chaos after 2011. That year left the country in a dire economic situation and security instability because of extremism and terrorism."

"One could look at these challenges and see no solution, but challenges also force us to find solutions and overcome them," he noted.

President El-Sisi reflected on one of the most pressing health issues in Egypt at that time which was the widespread Hepatitis C virus that reached epidemic levels in the country.

He noted that the virus plagued millions physically and psychologically and that the government responded by launching a national campaign to compile data on public health markers and treat the virus nationwide.

"This campaign helped the government compile massive amounts of data on health conditions, which contributed to building a more effective health system," the Egyptian president stated.

Therefore, according to El-Sisi, Egypt transitioned from one of the countries most affected by Hepatitis C to a nation declared free of the virus.

Meeting water challenges

 

President El-Sisi noted that Egypt's share of Nile water, which is 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually, has remained unchanged for hundreds of years, despite a significant increase in the country's population.

This amount of water had been sufficient for a population of four million. With the exponential increase in its population to 106 million, Egypt, whose water share never increased, became one of the world's most arid and water-scarce countries, El-Sisi explained.

The president noted that according to UN standards Egypt suffers from severe water scarcity with less than 450 cubic metres of water per person annually. The recommended annual share of water per person  is 900 to 1,000 cubic metres.

Despite this lack, El-Sisi continued, Egypt has not engaged in any conflict with any party to increase its water share. Instead, it has implemented a massive water management and treatment program to address this crisis over the past decade, he added.

Because of this programme, Egypt now ranks second globally in water usage and recycling.

The government he concluded has invested heavily in developing advanced water treatment plants for drinking water and agricultural drainage.

According to official figures, Egypt reuses 21.6 bcm of water annually and imports agricultural products that would otherwise require around 33 bcm annually to produce domestically.

Critical issues
 

For his part, Health Minister Abdel-Ghaffar said PHDC'24 serves as the fruit of extensive efforts among all relevant parties, both locally and internationally.

"It is an important platform for people from around the world to discuss issues of utmost importance for the present and future of life on Earth," he said describing the event.

"The conference addresses critical national issues that represent a major challenge for this generation and future ones," Abdel-Ghaffar emphasized.

During the opening session, Abdel-Ghaffar received a certificate from the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Egypt malaria-free, becoming the third country, after the UAE and Morocco, to receive this certification.

"The certification is a global recognition that Egypt has interrupted local malaria transmission for at least three years and can respond quickly and effectively to prevent the re-establishment of transmission inside Egypt should there be imported cases from other countries," the WHO said.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Egypt and President El-Sisi on this major achievement in a recorded speech.

Following the first edition's success in 2023, PHDC'24 serves as a global platform for experts, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to address health and population challenges within the wider scope of human development.

PHDC'24, held under the theme "Creating Change: Human Development for a Sustainable Future," aims to promote an integrated approach for long-term sustainability towards a healthier and more prosperous future.