UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC: VILLAGE LIFE, INCLUDING PRESIDENT NASSER'S HOME VILLAGE AND THE CURRENT MEDICAL CAMPAIGN IN THE U.A.R.

Record ID: 337304

  • Title: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC: VILLAGE LIFE, INCLUDING PRESIDENT NASSER'S HOME VILLAGE AND THE CURRENT MEDICAL CAMPAIGN IN THE U.A.R.
  • Date: 28th October 1966
  • Summary: SCENES IN VILLAGES, INCLUDING THE VILLAGE WHERE PRESIDENT NASSER WAS BORN; PICTURE OF NASSER IN PEASANTS HOME; DOCTORS VISITING THE VILLAGES; CHILDREN COVERED WITH DISEASE CARRYING FLIES; DOCTORS EXPLAINING BIRTH CONTROL AND HANDING OUT PILLS. Initials MM/V/CR/GLH Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th November 1966 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VARIOUS, UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC
  • Country: Egypt
  • Reuters ID: LVA7BXUUULKLH69HFDTT7G9GZDR5
  • Story Text: THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLICOF TODAY IS A MIXTURE OF THE PRIMITIVE AND THE MODERN. MILLIONS OF PEASANTS LIVE IN POOR VILLAGES WITH APPALLING HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT THEIR CHILDREN GO TO THE CITIES FOR FREE EDUCATION, AND DOCTORS ARE VISITING THE VILLAGES IN A CAMPAIGN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF BAD HEALTH AND OVER POPULATION.

    MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVE IN A NARROW STRIP OF LAND ALONG THE NILE RIVER AND THE POOR VILLAGES CAN BE FOUND WITHIN HALF AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM CAIRO. AS IN THE VILLAGE WHERE PRESIDENT NASSER WAS BORN CONDITIONS ARE MOSTLY PRIMITIVE. THE GREAT DISEASE CARRIER IS THE FLIES. ONE DOCTOR TOLD A VISITING BRITISH TV TEAM THAT PARENTS NEED TO BE EDUCATED. THEY DIDN'T LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN PROPERLY, OR EVEN UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF DISEASE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS IS THE EYE DISEASE, GLAUCOMA.

    SINCE PRESIDENT NASSER CAME TO POWER CLINICS HAVE BEEN SET UP IN MANY AREAS. BY LAW, NEWLY QUALIFIED DOCTORS HAVE TO SPEND TWO YEARS IN A VILLAGE CLINIC. AS A RESULT OF THIS WORK THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE HAS BEEN HALVED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS FROM 280 TO 130 DEATHS PER THOUSAND BIRTHS.

    THE DOCTOR'S ARE ALSO FIGHTING THE PROBLEM OF OVER-POPULATION BY INSTRUCTING THE PEASANTS ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS. PRESIDENT NASSER HIMSELF SAID THE BIG PROBLEMS THEY FACED WERE THE BELIEF THAT "ALLAH WOULD PROVIDE", AND THE FACT THAT CHILDREN MEANT MORE LABOUR AND MORE INCOME FOR THE POOR FARMERS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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