Prof. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar – Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Committee for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO – ALECSO – ISESCO), participated in a virtual dialogue via video conference, which was held by UNESCO yesterday evening, they discussed the Ministry’s plan to combat Coronavirus pandemic, and that in participation with 200 international officials on Education and scientific research and among them “72” ministers of higher education representatives of 127 countries.
The virtual dialogue includes cooperation and Experience exchange between participating countries to contain the spread of coronaVirus and preventive guidelines, creating platform for consultation, exchange of Experience between the different countries, the learned lesson of science role in supporting evidence-based decision –making. They discussed the approval of “a Call for global Charter for Open Science and International Scientific Cooperation”
Prof/Abdel-Ghaffar pointed at the precautionary measures taken by Egypt and allocating 100 billion EGP to combat COVID 19.
The minister confirmed the state efforts against coronavirus, pointing to the inititiative of “apply your idea” whereas the country allocated 30 million EGP to combat corona virus, to provide antiseptics and disinfectants according to the standards of world health organization, to find alternative solutions to the lack of treatment and health capabilities to combat the global epidemic
Prof/ Abdel Ghaffar discussed the possibility of launching an application in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that controls the spread of the virus by identifying and observing people who have first contact with positive cases, development and use of Thermal infrared thermometer devices to detect and control temperature in all public institutions.
The Minister indicated to discuss the effect of the tuberculosis vaccine that has existed in the Egyptian vaccine plan for more than forty years, and its effect in reducing infection with coronavirus, stressing during the dialogue that Egypt spares no effort to find the necessary solutions to confront Corona virus, and takes all necessary measures to prevent and treat the Egyptian citizen.
The Minister discussed the possibility of exchanging the latest scientific results between universities to confront the virus, as well as organizing awareness campaigns, lectures and seminars on best practices to combat the epidemic,
and unleashing research projects related to medical devices such as ventilators so that you can use one device for many patients recovery, Prof /Abdel- Ghaffar” praised the role of Ministry’s research centers and contributing to the diagnosis of infected cases and the manufacture of disinfectants and face masks by using nanotechnology.
The dialogue was witnessed by Ms. Audrey Azoulay – Director General of UNESCO, Dr. Shamila Nair Bodil – Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Sarah Agbor –Commissioner of Human Resource and technology in African Union, in addition to ministers of higher education and scientific research from some Arab countries such as (Jordan – Morocco – Tunisia) and from Africa ministers of countries of (Nigeria – Ethiopia – Benin) , From the European side, the ministers of scientific research from countries of (France – Norway), and from the Asian side the ministers of scientific research from the countries of
(China – Malaysia – Pakistan), the dialogue also witnessed the participation of the representative of European Union Commissioner.