As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, many Egyptians are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday. On March 28, 2025, the Ministry of Labor, led by Minister Mohamed Gabran, officially announced the holiday schedule for the private sector, confirming the start of the festivities.
The Egyptian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, has set the official Eid al-Fitr holiday for the public sector from Saturday, March 29, 2025, to Tuesday, April 1, 2025. This announcement aligns with astronomical calculations predicting that the first day of Eid will fall on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Should the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal be sighted, Monday, March 31, 2025, will mark the beginning of the month, extending the holiday until Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
In addition to the public sector, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif declared that students across all schools in the Republic will also receive an official holiday for Eid al-Fitr. This break will commence on Saturday, March 29, and conclude on Friday, April 4, with classes resuming on Saturday, April 5.
Students at Al-Azhar institutions will similarly enjoy the same holiday schedule, as confirmed by Dr. Mohamed Al-Dawini, the representative of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. This initiative aims to allow students to celebrate the holiday with their families and participate in community festivities.
Looking ahead, other significant dates have also been announced for 2025. The Sham El-Nessim holiday will be observed on Monday, April 21, while Sinai Liberation Day is set for Friday, April 25. Labor Day will follow on Thursday, May 1, and the anniversary of the June 30 Revolution will be on Monday, June 30. Other important dates include the July 23 Revolution anniversary on Wednesday, July 23, and the October 6 holiday on Monday, October 6.
As the holiday approaches, citizens are also reflecting on various national initiatives aimed at improving public health. The 100 Million Health Initiative, launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has been a significant focus in recent months. This initiative aims to enhance the health of Egyptians through early detection and treatment of chronic and genetic diseases.
Dr. Amr Dweidar, the Director of Health in Sohag, reported that over half a million citizens have been examined through the 100 Million Health Initiative in the last six months alone. This initiative has received substantial support from Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Health and Population, as well as from Dr. Abdel Fattah Siraj, the Governor of Sohag.
Dr. Dweidar emphasized that the political leadership is committed to ensuring that health services reach all corners of the governorate, highlighting the importance of these initiatives in raising awareness and improving the quality of life for citizens. He remarked, "These presidential initiatives have formed a significant turning point in our community, reflecting the political leadership's dedication to fostering substantial changes and building a healthier, socially aware Egyptian populace."
The Ministry of Health has rolled out several initiatives under the 100 Million Health umbrella, including:
- Early detection of chronic diseases, with 86,000 citizens examined.
- Early detection of cancerous tumors, with over 105,000 citizens screened.
- Support for Egyptian women's health, benefiting 244,569 women.
- Maternal and fetal health services, provided to 16,326 women.
- Senior citizen health initiatives, serving 5,121 elderly individuals.
- Hearing impairment screenings for newborns, reaching 49,699 children.
- The "Your Heart is Safe" initiative, which examined 5,363 citizens.
- Pre-marital health screenings, with 38,552 young men and women participating.
- Efforts to eliminate waiting lists, successfully addressing 15,281 cases in the last six months.
Dr. Dweidar further noted that these initiatives reflect a comprehensive policy aimed at alleviating the burdens on citizens and enhancing support across all societal groups. He stated, "The political leadership seeks to establish a holistic protection policy that improves the quality of life and invests in human capital, believing that true social, economic, and political development cannot be achieved without real human development across various dimensions."
As the Eid al-Fitr holiday nears, Egyptians are not only preparing for celebrations but also recognizing the ongoing efforts to improve public health and well-being across the nation. This blend of festive anticipation and health awareness highlights a pivotal moment for many as they embrace both tradition and progress.
