26 February 2018 – Dr Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative in Egypt, welcomed H.E. Ambassador of Australia, Mr Neil Hawkins who visited the WHO country office in Egypt, on 25 February 2018, to discuss collaboration between the Australian Embassy and WHO in strengthening health systems within the umbrella of universal health coverage and other public health programmes, including hepatitis C.

During the meeting the Dr Jabbour and the Australian Ambassador met 5 Egyptian scholars who were supported in undertaking a 3-week study tour at Burnet Institute, Australia. This meeting was also attended by Professor Yehia Al Shazly, Deputy Head of the Supreme Committee for the Control of Viral Hepatitis, and Professor Kadry Al Saaed, the Executive Director of the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis, staff from the WHO country office and Australian Embassy, as well as the Egyptian scholars of the Burnet Institute.

The meeting provided an opportunity to listen to different experiences, as well as the ideas for upcoming collaboration between different partners on how to achieve a fruitful and successful tripartite partnership.

The Australian Award Fellowship was a platform for delegates from Egypt, Australia, Indonesia and China to exchange ideas and experience related to hepatitis C control and prevention. The WHO country office Egypt collaborated with the Burnet Institute in Australia to support a study tour for 5 officials from various departments in the Ministry of Health and Population. This study tour aimed to train and develop the capacity of Egyptian health workers and to exchange Australian-Egyptian experience in health and medical sectors, including a research component.