Bayer, Egypt’s health ministry hold ‘Albak Amana’ marathon to raise heart health awareness

Edit  : maher badr

Bayer, in cooperation with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, organised the “Albak Amana” marathon in the New Administrative Capital to raise awareness of cardiovascular health and encourage healthier lifestyles.

The event was attended by Samir El-Demery, head of the ministry’s Primary Healthcare and Family Development Sector, and Alia Ashraf, Commercial Lead for Egypt and the Levant at Bayer Consumer Health. It was held as part of the initiative jointly launched by the ministry and Bayer in 2023 to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases, promote prevention and the early detection of associated risk factors, and encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Launched in 2023, “Albak Amana” is a national cardiovascular health awareness and early detection programme that combines community outreach with medical screenings to help identify cardiovascular risk factors, support Egypt’s efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare and improve public health outcomes.

Since its launch, the initiative has reached communities across Egypt through a range of awareness activities and medical screenings conducted in cooperation with healthcare stakeholders.

Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar said the marathon highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts between state institutions and the private sector to raise health awareness and promote a culture of prevention.

Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco and routine medical check-ups are key to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, he said.

Abdel-Ghaffar added that community and sporting events offer an effective way to communicate health messages in an accessible and interactive manner, helping translate awareness into sustained daily habits. He stressed the importance of detecting risk factors early, particularly high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose levels, to reduce complications and improve quality of life.

He also noted that presidential public health initiatives, particularly the “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative, have helped strengthen the culture of prevention and early detection. The ministry, he said, continues to support programmes aimed at reducing risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases and encouraging community participation in protecting public health.

For his part, El-Demery said the ministry is working to strengthen prevention as a cornerstone of healthcare development. He stressed the importance of restoring the central role of primary healthcare in prevention and the early detection of risk factors, helping protect people’s health and reduce the likelihood of complications.

Mohamed Galal, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Health for the Middle East and North Africa at Bayer, expressed pride in the company’s cooperation with the ministry in organising the marathon.

Cardiovascular diseases remain among the world’s leading health challenges, he said, underscoring the importance of strengthening awareness, prevention and early detection efforts.

Galal added that the marathon reflected a shared commitment to raising health awareness and encouraging healthier lifestyles. Achieving lasting improvements in public health, he said, requires cooperation across sectors, combining awareness, screenings and preventive interventions to deliver better long-term health outcomes.

Through “Albak Amana”, Bayer continues to support cardiovascular disease awareness and early detection efforts, he said. Its cooperation with the ministry includes specialist support for early detection, capacity building and ongoing training for medical professionals.

Galal reaffirmed Bayer’s commitment to supporting efforts to raise health awareness and encourage preventive practices that help protect people’s health and improve their quality of life.

He added that these efforts form part of Bayer’s approach to supporting sustainable development and strengthening cooperation with relevant stakeholders, in line with Egypt’s healthcare development priorities, the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt Vision 2030.