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The High Institute of Public Health at Alexandria University Organizes a Conference on “Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Situation and Challenges”

Under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, the High Institute of Public Health organized on Monday, October 27, 2025, a scientific conference entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Situation and Challenges.” The event witnessed wide participation from representatives of governmental bodies, international organizations, and Egyptian universities.
The conference was attended by Prof. Dr. Hesham Saeed, Vice President of Alexandria University for Graduate Studies and Research; Prof. Dr. Heba El-Qady, Dean of the High Institute of Public Health; Prof. Dr. Amr Kandil, Deputy Minister of Health and Population for Preventive Medicine; Dr. Jacqueline Benat, Representative of the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Dr. Mohamed Farid Hamdy, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate; Dr. Mohamed Badran, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Alexandria; and Dr. Sameh Riyad, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment in Alexandria, along with vice-deans of the Institute, experts, academics, and faculty members from various faculties of Alexandria University.
The conference sessions were presented by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim El-Kordany, distinguished scholar at the Institute and former official spokesperson of the World Health Organization (WHO), while the discussion panel was moderated by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Mandil, Professor of Epidemiology at the Institute.
High-level representatives from the Ministries of Health and Population, Agriculture, and Environment, the Egyptian Drug Authority, the General Organization for Veterinary Services, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the American University in Cairo, and the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network also took part in the event.
The conference addressed several key themes, including:
Analysis of the global, regional, and national situation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR);
Improving practices across healthcare, food production, and environmental sectors;
Promoting infection prevention and control within the framework of the “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Hesham Saeed emphasized that the conference reflects Alexandria University’s and the Institute’s pioneering role in supporting applied scientific research and tackling priority public health issues nationally and globally. He stated that antimicrobial resistance represents one of the most serious threats to global public health, as it leads to treatment difficulties, increased disease and mortality rates, and higher economic burdens. He explained that the excessive and uncontrolled use of antibiotics in humans and animals, as well as their use in agriculture and aquaculture as growth promoters, has accelerated the development of resistant microbial strains. Dr. Saeed stressed the importance of strengthening regulations governing antibiotic use, enforcing safe disposal of medical waste, and addressing the global decline in the discovery of new antimicrobial agents.
Prof. Dr. Amr Kandil highlighted that the conference aligns with the Ministry of Health’s efforts to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance and enhance healthcare quality. He referred to the National Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, launched in 2023, which has been implemented in 96 hospitals nationwide, with six hospitals being upgraded to international Centers of Excellence in infection control.
For her part, Prof. Dr. Heba El-Qady noted that antimicrobial resistance is among the greatest public health threats worldwide, leading to loss of treatment efficacy, increased mortality rates, and higher healthcare costs. She emphasized that AMR is not only a medical issue but also a societal one that requires close collaboration among all sectors within the “One Health” framework. She added that the conference aims to enhance research cooperation and develop effective national and regional strategies to curb the spread of resistant microbes and promote the rational use of antibiotics.
In a recorded message, Dr. Nehme Abed, WHO Representative in Egypt, stressed the need for joint efforts across health, environmental, and agricultural sectors under the “One Health” approach. He warned that antimicrobial resistance could cause more than 10 million deaths by 2050, highlighting the close cooperation between the WHO and the Egyptian government in implementing the national AMR action plan.
Dr. Jacqueline Benat, FAO Representative, underscored the importance of examining the impact of antimicrobial resistance not only on humans but also on the environment and livestock. She emphasized the necessity of integrated collaboration among all sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Sameh Riyad, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment in Alexandria, stressed the need to consider the environmental determinants of antimicrobial resistance—particularly regarding fisheries, water resources, and waste disposal from hospitals and healthcare centers—and highlighted the Ministry’s efforts in cooperation with other sectors to address this issue comprehensively.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohamed Farid Hamdy, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, and Dr. Abdel Moneim Fawzy, Head of the Alexandria Medical Syndicate, expressed the Syndicate’s full support for initiatives that promote better public health outcomes, hoping the conference’s recommendations will lead to tangible improvements benefiting Egyptian citizens.
Finally, the Department of Microbiology at the Institute presented a series of scientific research studies focused on antimicrobial resistance and potential alternative treatments explored through departmental research projects.



Alexandria University Launches the EU-Funded AGROW-HUB Project to Promote Sustainable Solutions for Agricultural Waste Management

Within the framework of Alexandria University’s commitment to supporting sustainability, innovation, and linking scientific research to development priorities, the University has launched the AGROW-HUB project, funded by the European Union. The project aims to promote sustainable solutions for agricultural waste management and transform it into value-added products, thereby supporting the circular bio-economy and strengthening academic and industrial partnerships at both the regional and international levels.
Alexandria University – as the coordinating institution of the AGROW-HUB project – held the official kick-off meeting for the project entitled “Enhancing Education, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Green Agricultural Waste Solutions in the South Mediterranean”, funded by the European Union, during the period from 17 to 20 December, marking the official start of the approved project activities.
The project is implemented under the Erasmus+ Programme (Capacity Building in Higher Education – CBHE) and will run for three years, aiming to support the transition toward more sustainable practices in agricultural waste management and to enhance the role of universities in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosted the project’s public launch event as part of the official kick-off activities, with wide participation from local and international partners. The event witnessed extensive collaboration among a distinguished group of Egyptian, European, and Tunisian universities, in addition to representatives of governmental bodies, relevant authorities, and industry partners.
Prof. Hanan El-Gawaily, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Alexandria University, affirmed that the AGROW-HUB project represents a strategic step toward strengthening the University’s role in supporting the circular economy and sustainability. She added that the project focuses on curriculum modernization, capacity building, and linking education to innovation and labor market needs, achieving tangible academic and societal impact and enhancing Alexandria University’s international partnerships in the South Mediterranean region.
Dr. Iman Shawky, Head of the Pharmacognosy Department at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, and General Coordinator of the AGROW-HUB project, noted that the project’s launch embodies an effective model of cooperation among universities, the industrial sector, policymakers, and society, with the aim of translating knowledge into practical, implementable applications. She explained that the project will focus on developing training programs and modern courses, establishing applied laboratories (Living Labs), supporting entrepreneurship, and incubating start-up ideas, thereby contributing to job creation and the development of sustainable value chains based on green technologies.
The project consortium includes the following universities: Ain Shams University; the Universities of Monastir and Sousse (Tunisia); Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of West Attica (Greece); the German University in Cairo; the University of Turin (Italy) and the University of Turin Business Incubator and Technology Transfer Company; Minia University; and the University of Barcelona (Spain).
The AGROW-HUB project aims to address the environmental and socio-economic challenges resulting from the limited utilization of agricultural and agri-food industrial waste in the South Mediterranean region by strengthening partnerships between universities, governmental bodies, and industrial sectors in Egypt, Tunisia, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
The project also seeks to build an integrated circular bio-economy model based on green technologies through updating and developing academic curricula, establishing Living Labs, and supporting business incubators and start-ups, thereby linking scientific research to real societal and labor market needs.
Furthermore, the project targets the transformation of agricultural waste into high-value products and bioactive compounds used in the food, feed, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and other green industries. This will support skills development, create new job opportunities, enhance sustainable value chains, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.


Unit for Combating Violence against Women at Alexandria University Organizes Seminar at Medical Research Institute on Physical and Psychological Abuse, How to Detect and Treat Them




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