Around 4.5 million Egyptian women have been screened under Egypt's "100 Million Health" initiative, Health Minister Hala Zayed announced on Tuesday. Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the initiative targeting women, which begun in July last year, aims to raise awareness of reproductive health issues, family planning, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and obesity. It also highlights breast self-examination.

The first phase of the initiative covered Alexandria, Port Said, Beheira, Qalioubiya, Damietta, Marsa Matrouh, South Sinai, Fayoum and Assiut.

The second phase, which began in November, covered the governorates of Cairo, North Sinai, Red Sea, Kafr El-Sheikh, Ismailia, Suez, Menoufiya, Beni Suef, Sohag, Aswan and Luxor, he said.

The president-backed initiative aims to screen 28 million women nationwide.