Egypt's First Harm Reduction Summit Concludes With Key Recommendations
The inaugural Harm Reduction Summit in Cairo concluded on Wednesday, issuing 12 vital recommendations to accelerate harm reduction approaches and mitigate practices that negatively impact health, the environment, and society.
The summit centered around addressing harm reduction concepts and minimizing the adverse effects of harmful practices on the environment, health, and society. It served as a platform to showcase successful case studies that positively influenced businesses and communities, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030 national development goals.
The sessions covered various aspects, including the application of harm reduction in early disease detection and treatment, as emphasized by distinguished medical experts. Recommendations included promoting healthy diets, increasing physical activity, and addressing smoking-related diseases.
Another session explored how harm reduction strategies benefit businesses and communities, focusing on cost reduction, energy efficiency, and reducing environmental footprints.
Recommendations Proposed:
The summit put forth 12 key recommendations, including establishing a national alliance to set risk reduction standards, integrating harm reduction into university curricula, educating the public on harm reduction practices, and aligning risk reduction policies with international laws. Other proposals involved increasing recycling facilities for medical and electronic waste, financing green projects, supporting a green economy, and promoting the use of electric vehicles and eco-friendly building materials in the construction of green cities.
Ministerial and Industry Contributions:
Prominent figures such as Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Chairman of the Board of the Egyptian Chamber of Chemical Industries Sherif El Gabaly, and General Manager of Egyptian Standards Heba Hammad contributed to the discussions, highlighting ongoing efforts and addressing challenges related to environmental sustainability and responsible waste management.
The summit attracted local and regional experts from government and private sectors, fostering harm reduction strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
