Egypt reaches a new ‘high’

The nation referred to as “Om El Donya” or “Mother of the World” is not leading the world in technology, industry, culture, health, or education, but is instead leading the world in drug use and sexual harassment.

Reports released this week have shocked both Egyptians and the international community, after it was revealed that Egypt leads the world in drug use, sexual harassment, the political oppression of women, the number of Hepatitis C infections, and the number of deaths caused by road accidents.

Egypt has been closely watched since the January 25 revolution in 2011, with people around the world hailing the revolution as a great achievement. Yet, what exactly did Egyptians achieve when Egypt is now ranked right behind Afghanistan when it comes to sexual harassment?

According to the Economist, Egypt ranks first in the list of countries that recorded a decline in access to economic opportunities for women as compared to previous years. 50 percent of Egypt’s 83 million population is women, yet they only make up 23 percent of Egypt’s workforce.

Echoing similar results, Egypt’s Central for Women’s Rights reported that Egypt ranks first in the world among countries where the status of women fell politically. In Egypt’s newly-elected Shura Council (Upper-House of Parliament), there are 264 members, 13 of whom are women.

The revolution in which hundreds of thousands of young Egyptian men and women called for justice, equality, and freedom has moved forward with everything but justice, equality, and freedom for women.

Reports released by Egypt’s National Council for Battling Addiction reveal that the use of drugs among people over 15 has jumped from 6.4 percent to 30 percent since 2011. Egypt’s high level of drug use highlights the nation’s weakening social structure and the failure of the state to provide employment opportunities. Egypt’s youth unemployment rate is at 25 percent, while half of all young Egyptians are living in poverty. With no future to look forward to, the continued failure of the state pushes Egyptians to a new ‘high’.

The number of Hepatitis C infections further sheds light upon Egypt’s high drug use and the weak and substandard health system, with understaffed and under-resourced hospitals. The main cause of infection is normally intravenous drug use. In Egypt, the primary cause of the spread of the virus is the lack of enforcement and implementation of standard precautions in both public and private hospitals – Egyptians go to a hospital to get treatment yet leave the hospital in an even worse condition.

When Egypt’s top political, religious, and business leaders undertake treatment abroad, what message does that send?

The country that once built the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and two-thirds of the world’s monuments cannot build a modern road system that does not lead to the deaths of more than 10,000 Egyptians per year. The country that was once the Arab world’s cultural, technological, and industrial hub, has become one that is unable to provide adequate medical services to its citizens.

The problem is that the middle-class dominated society is stuck in the past: they are stuck believing that the revolution was the answer to all their dreams, when in reality it has become nothing but a political power play by all those hungry for control over Egypt.

The revolution should have been the answer to Egypt’s societal problems: to high illiteracy, the decaying public health network, and to the increasing polarization of women in society. It should have broken the ‘desensitization’ you feel when you see a one-armed beggar on Cairo’s streets with barely enough clothes to cover him. The revolution – Egypt – should have become a beacon for real, ground-breaking, inspirational change.

The point is, this is not the future we dreamed of, but it is not impossible to achieve an even greater future. The first step is by recognizing and challenging the harsh realities that many of us choose to ignore.