Apr 19, 2024. Posted by Periscope - Hellas
Cairo.
The Coptic
Orthodox Church launched Thursday a project to raise awareness about the
dangers of consanguineous marriages, entitling the initiative “let the joy be
complete.”
Pope Tawadros II and the representatives of the initiative’s partners, which are the Ministries of Health and Population, Youth and Sports, Social Solidarity, the United Nations Population Fund, the NGOs “Egypt Without Sickness” and “Fahim” psychological support.
Church pontiffs, priests, a number of
officials, ambassadors, businessmen and public figures also attended the event.
The initiative aims to reduce the chances of
future generations being exposed to genetic diseases, by avoiding marriage
within the extended family to protect individuals, families, and the society
from health, moral and financial problems in the future. The slogan of the
initiative is “Egyptian family health = community health.”
Barbara Suleiman, Director of the Pontifical
Office for Projects and Relations, said that since the office’s establishment
in 2013, it has focused on education, health, and women’s empowerment.
Two documentaries were played, explaining the
main features of the dangers of consanguineous marriage. Two lectures were
given on genetic and psychological
diseases resulting from consanguineous marriages.
Dr. Nevin Al-Wahsh, the office advisor,
presented the vision and plan of the initiative.
In his word, the Pope said the church has a spiritual and a social role, which it has endeavored to fulfill since its inception in the first century AD.
He also praised the efforts made by the
Egyptian government for the safety of society and its individuals through many
presidential actions and initiatives, especially applauding the Decent Life
Initiative.
Pope Tawadros highlighted that studies have
shown that there are 10,000 diseases
caused by marriages of relatives.
The Church volunteered to sponsor cochlear
implantation for me 23 cases and discovered that all of these cases were
children of close relatives, he warned.
He urged cooperation to confront this problem
and raise awareness about it.
Egypt Today