Health in Egypt
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Ancient Egyptian medicine refers to the practices of healing common in Ancient Egypt from circa 3300 BC until the Persian invasion of 525 BC. This medicine was highly advanced for the time, and included simple, non-invasive surgery, setting of bones and an extensive set of pharmacopoeia and magical spells. While ancient Egyptian remedies are often characterized in modern culture by magical incantations and dubious ingredients, research in Biomedical Egyptology shows they were often effective and sixty-seven percent of the known formulae complied with the 1973 British Pharmaceutical Codex, aside from sterilization.[1] Medical texts specified specific steps of examination, diagnosis, prognosis and treatments that were often rational and appropriate.
Disease
With less than 1 percent of the population estimated to be HIV-positive, Egypt is a low-HIV-prevalence country. Unsafe behaviors among most-at-risk populations and limited condom use among the general population place Egypt at risk of a broader epidemic. According to the National AIDS Program (NAP), there were 1,155 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Egypt by the end of 2007. UNAIDS estimates for 2005 were higher, putting the number of HIV-positive Egyptians at 5,300.[2]
Egypt has particularly high rates of Hepatitis C (22%), one of the highest world wide (Pakistan (4.8%), China (3.2%)).[3] It is believed that the high prevalence in Egypt is linked to a now-discontinued mass-treatment campaign for schistosomiasis, using improperly sterilized glass syringes.[4]
Avian influenza has been present in Egypt, with 52 cases and 23 deaths in January 2009.[1]
Drugs
According to Egypt’s National Council for Battling Drug Addiction, the use of recreational drugs among residents of Cairo over the age of 15 has rocketed from 6% to 30% since the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Pain, Stephanie. (2007). "The Pharaohs' Pharmacists." New Scientist. 15 December 2007, pp. 41-43.
- ^ "Health Profile: Egypt". United States Agency for International Development (March 2008). Accessed September 7, 2008.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Hepatitis C". World Health Organization (WHO). June 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- ^ Alter, MJ (2007-05-07). "Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection" (PDF). World journal of gastroenterology : WJG. 13 (17): 2436–41. PMID 17552026.
- ^ http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21583671-north-african-governments-struggle-stem-illegal-flow-arms-and-drugs-boom Trafficking in north Africa: Boom boom
