Egypt to Launch “Noor Saghir” for Early Detection of Childhood Cancers

Egypt will launch a national programme for the early detection and treatment of childhood cancers in January 2027, with an estimated cost of EGP 1.8 billion (USD 33 million) and a target of reducing diagnosis times by at least 20 percent.

Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar held a meeting on Sunday to review the final preparations for the presidential initiative Noor Saghir (Little Light), which the ministry described as Egypt’s first integrated national programme dedicated to the early detection of childhood cancers.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly officially announced for the initiative in October as a key outcome of the Egypt Forum 2026.

Beyond shortening the time to diagnosis, the programme seeks to increase recovery rates by enabling prompt intervention and treatment at the appropriate time.

It will cover children from birth to 18 years of age and will initially focus on six cancers identified as common and highly treatable: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms tumour, low-grade glioma and retinoblastoma.

The selection is in line with the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

The ministry also plans to extend coverage to healthcare units in rural and remote areas to ensure equitable access to early detection services.

The initiative will operate through a three-tier system. It begins with primary healthcare units and school clinics, moves on to early-diagnosis clinics, and, where necessary, culminates in specialised cancer centres that confirm diagnoses and provide treatment in accordance with approved protocols.

During the meeting, Abdel Ghaffar stressed that the initiative’s services would extend beyond medical care to include psychological support for children and their families.

He directed the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to provide such support and to monitor families’ needs throughout the diagnosis and treatment journey.