New york: Deputy Minister of Health and Population Abla El-Alfi delivered Egypt's statement during the 59th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD59), held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from April 13 to 17. In her address on April 14, El-Alfi emphasized Egypt's alignment with the positions of the Group of 77 and China, as well as the Arab Group.
According to State Information Service Egypt, El-Alfi noted the significance of this year's session due to its focus on the intersection of population dynamics, technology, and scientific research to support sustainable development. She highlighted the connection between the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. El-Alfi stressed the need for a comprehensive framework that places people at the heart of development efforts, addressing population and health challenges.
El-Alfi underlined the importance of leveraging data, scientific research, and innovation to understand population dynamics and formulate evidence-based policies. This approach, she argued, will contribute to poverty reduction, inclusive economic growth, and equal opportunities in education, employment, and basic services. She reviewed Egypt's initiatives, such as the National Population and Development Strategy 2023-2030 and the urgent plan for 2025-2027, which aim to improve population characteristics and reduce the total fertility rate.
Furthermore, El-Alfi highlighted the National Digital Health Strategy 2025-2029, which aims to support healthcare innovation and achieve efficient, equitable, and sustainable services. She noted Egypt's progress, including increasing birth spacing and reducing maternal mortality rates. For the first time since 2007, annual births fell below two million in 2024, with a decline in fertility rates over the past decade.
In conclusion, El-Alfi stressed the dual nature of population dynamics as both opportunities and challenges. She called for support for innovation and scientific research to maximize the demographic dividend and build a better future for coming generations. El-Alfi affirmed Egypt's commitment to balancing population growth with sustainable development, leveraging technology and innovation for the benefit of all.