'Child mortality on the decline in the Gulf'

DUBAI - Child mortality dropped dramatically in the Arab countries from 90 cases per 1,000 in 1990 to 77 cases in the year 2000 and a further two-thirds drop is expected by 2015, Mattar Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs said.

By A Staff Reporter

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 14 Jan 2004, 11:44 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:23 AM

He was speaking at the Third Arab Conference for Children's Rights that began in Tunisia yesterday with the aim of improving the Arab Document for Childhood for the decade that will be used as a guideline for policy makers in the Arab countries.

Mr Al Tayer is heading the UAE delegation at the conference.

‘The progress the Arab countries has witnessed in the past decade in the area of child heath is an achievement. Arab countries are determined to preserve children's rights and improve their living conditions,’ Mr Al Tayer said.

He said that the percentage of people enjoying healthcare has improved and the percentage of children aged 1 who are covered by vaccine reached 85 per cent in 2001.

Mr Al Tayer also spoke about the equality in providing girls and boys with rights to education in the Arab world saying that the percentage of girls in primary schools increased from 83 per cent in 1990 to 89 percent in 2000.

‘By the year 2015, there will be total equality in the number of educated boys and girls in the Arab world,’ Mr Al Tayer said.

He also highlighted the improvement made in the area of providing healthcare to mothers, which eventually reflects on the health of their children.

He said starvation in the Arab countries vary from one country to another, but cited studies say that between 15 to 20 per cent of the poor Arab families are supported by women.


More news from