July 29, 2024 8:34 am EDT

Cairo – June 12, 2024, Organon, a global healthcare company with a focus on women’s health, is hosting an event under the auspices of the US embassy in Egypt to celebrate and recognize its unwavering efforts for the past three years in advancing women’s healthcare, together with partners across the world. The event titled “Her Day,” celebrated Organon’s 3-year anniversary and welcomed to Egypt the esteemed presence of Kevin Ali, the global CEO of Organon, Mazen Altaruti, President of the Emerging Markets and Ramy Koussa, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Associate Vice President at Organon.  

The event attended by H.E. Herro Mustafa Garag, the US Ambassador to Egypt, brought together a distinguished gathering of attendees, including representatives from UN agencies, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the American Chamber of Commerce, and senior stakeholders from the private sector. They represent a diverse array of stakeholders deeply committed to advancing women’s health initiatives in Egypt and beyond.

Representing the Egyptian government were esteemed guests. Among them were Prof. Dr. Khaled Abdelghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Ali El Ghamrawy, Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, and Dr. Ahmed El Sobky, Chairman of the Egyptian Healthcare Authority, Dr. Hisham Badr, Vice Chariman of the National Insurance Authority and Dr. Tarek Tawfik Head of the National Population Council.

Over the past three years, Organon has made significant progress in Egypt, achieving notable milestones. Noteworthy accomplishments include expanding access to family planning methods to over 600,000 women, as well as raising community awareness on long – acting family planning methods and their benefits.

 “Creating meaningful change requires collaboration, as no single entity or sector can advance women’s health alone. By working together with change-makers and partners, Organon aims to introduce and expand access to health solutions that help create an equitable place for women in the world. Having the tools, resources and options will help Egyptian women take control of their health and make informed decisions to achieve a better and healthier every day. Together, we can drive innovation in healthcare and ensure a brighter future for all.” remarked, Kevin Ali, CEO of Organon.

Recently, Organon has launched ‘Mis[s]diagnosed’ campaign. An initiative focused on raising awareness about the lesser-known symptoms of heart attacks in women aiming to prevent misdiagnosis and stimulate extensive discussions and awareness through informative content, and impactful storytelling across several Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt. The campaign aims to shift the focus of women’s health beyond just reproductive health, and it was a collaborative effort involving stakeholders from across the healthcare industry from healthcare professionals to key opinion leaders, policy makers, influencers, and the general public Inspiring pharmaceutical and healthcare entities to enhance clinical trial diversity and raising awareness about the different symptoms of heart attacks in women.

 U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg attended the ceremony and said, “Organon and its work in Egypt is an excellent example of the partnership between Egypt and the United States:  American innovation contributing to Egypt’s priorities, in close collaboration with the government, private sector, and NGO sector, all working toward a common purpose.  Tonight, we celebrate our success together, working to build a more prosperous future for Egyptians and Americans alike.”

Over the past three years Organon strategically directed its on-ground efforts in Egypt towards two areas: increasing community awareness and empowering women in their personal and professional lives. The company launched the region’s first Women Health Accelerator program in partnership with Flat6labs, demonstrating its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to identify and nurture women-led start-ups in the digital health sector, catalyzing innovation and addressing unmet needs in women’s healthcare. Additionally, Organon has focused on enhancing the capabilities of the healthcare community by partnering with various organizations to deliver training to healthcare professionals and provide support to women of reproductive age.

Furthermore, Organon collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand the scope of family planning services in Egypt. This initiative was part of Organon’s broader global campaign, “Her Plan is Her Power,” which aimed to empower women by providing comprehensive access to family planning and education. Moreover, the company launched awareness campaigns such as “Your Right to Choose,” which aimed to educate women in Egypt about the available long – acting family planning methods and their benefits, providing women with the information they need to make informed decisions about the best methods suited to their needs, supporting them in their journey toward informed family planning choices.

These concerted efforts aim to enable all women and girls to make informed decisions about their future, ensuring their well-being and autonomy while also aligning with the Egyptian government and the Ministry of Health’s priorities towards family planning and empowering women. Recognizing the progress made and reaffirming the collective commitment of all partners to support government reproductive health initiatives, Organon aims to pave the road for a healthier and more empowered future for women in Egypt and beyond.