GCC countries surpass global health targets: Gulf-Stat
The report indicates that the GCC nations have surpassed the global target for maternal mortality, which aims to limit deaths to no more than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. In 2022, the highest recorded maternal mortality rate in the region was 17.1 per 100,000 live births. Additionally, the percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel in all GCC countries exceeded 98% in 2022.
Regarding child health, the under-five mortality rate in the GCC countries reached approximately 10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly lower than the global target of under 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. All GCC countries have also achieved the target of reducing neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In the realm of infectious diseases, the report notes that HIV infection rates remain low among both males and females in the GCC countries, with the overall number of recorded infections staying below the global average of 0.17 per 1,000 uninfected population.
The report also addresses environmental health, stating that death rates from road traffic accidents in the GCC countries ranged between 3 and 14.1 deaths per 100,000 population in 2022, all below the global average of 15 deaths per 100,000. Similarly, death rates from air pollution in the region ranged between 16 and 45 deaths per 100,000 population, lower than the global average of 93 deaths per 100,000. Additionally, the GCC countries recorded very low rates for deaths resulting from unsafe water, sanitation, or poor hygiene, with the highest recorded value not exceeding 0.1 deaths per 100,000 population.
Concerning vaccination coverage, the GCC countries have approached comprehensive coverage limits, with rates exceeding 97%, compared to the global coverage rate of 84%.
The GCC Statistical Center, headquartered in Muscat, Oman, serves as the official body accredited for data, information, and statistics related to the GCC countries. Established to be the official source of statistics, the center plays a crucial role in enhancing the statistical and information work of national statistical centers and planning agencies in the GCC countries.
This report underscores the GCC countries' commitment to improving public health and achieving global health targets, reflecting their ongoing efforts to enhance the well-being of their populations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
24-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait calls for unified Gulf efforts to expand Healthy Cities initiative
KUWAIT: A senior Kuwaiti health official has emphasized the need for unified Gulf efforts to accelerate progress in the Healthy Cities initiative, a regional program that integrates health into urban planning to improve quality of life and drive sustainable development. Speaking at the 24th meeting of the GCC Joint Committee on Healthy Cities, Dr Amal Al-Yahya, Director of the Ministry of Health's Healthy Cities Department, said cross-border collaboration and coordination among sectors are critical for advancing public health, expanding community participation, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 'The Healthy Cities initiative offers a powerful platform for joint action between ministries, municipalities, civil society, and the private sector,' Dr Al-Yahya said. 'It enables us to create environments that support health, sustainability and social equity.' The meeting, attended by Gulf representatives, focused on advancing health-promoting commercial complexes — malls and markets designed with public health in mind — and moving from national pilot projects to a unified GCC-wide approach. Dr Al-Yahya noted that achieving this requires good planning, capacity building, and the adoption of standardized models and evaluation mechanisms. The committee reviewed recommendations from the Second Kuwait Healthy Cities Conference held in February and explored how to translate those into actionable plans. Dr Al-Yahya emphasized the need to register more cities under WHO's Healthy Cities framework and strengthen the role of civil society in supporting long-term health and environmental outcomes. Kuwait's Healthy Cities Kuwait is steadily expanding its participation in the WHO Regional Network of Healthy Cities, with Fintas becoming the country's 21st registered area earlier this week. The signing ceremony, led by Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, was attended by Dr Al-Yahya, who confirmed Fintas' official inclusion. According to the Ministry of Health, the Healthy Cities initiative in Kuwait goes beyond traditional healthcare settings by addressing social determinants of health — such as urban design, education, and access to green spaces — that impact daily life. According to the United Nations, a 'healthy city' is not one that is already healthy, but one that commits to improving the living environment for all residents. The WHO defines such cities as places that prioritize health in urban planning, promote community participation, and support equitable access to services. In practical terms, this translates into cleaner air, accessible public spaces, walkable neighborhoods, better waste management, and greater community voice in local planning. It also means investing in infrastructure that encourages healthy lifestyles — like bike lanes, green areas, and inclusive services for youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities. As Kuwait moves forward with its goal to increase the number of certified healthy cities to 10 fully recognized urban areas, it is also pushing complementary programs like health-promoting universities, elderly-friendly public infrastructure, and smart, sustainable retail spaces. — Agencies
Arab Times
24-06-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait conducts training on advancing health-promoting malls across the GCC
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: The Healthy Cities Office at Kuwait's Ministry of Health launched a Gulf training course aimed at building the capacity of evaluators involved in assessing health-promoting shopping malls across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The two-day program, which began on Tuesday, includes both theoretical sessions and field visits to malls that have successfully passed previous evaluation stages. In her opening remarks, Dr. Amal Al-Yahya, Director of the Healthy Cities Office, highlighted the course's focus on establishing standardized measurement tools and evaluation mechanisms. She emphasized the importance of developing the necessary skills and considerations for evaluators in promoting public health through healthy environments. Dr. Al-Yahya explained that the Health-Promoting Shopping Centers and Malls Initiative, known as 'Muazaz,' represents a model for implementing the Healthy Cities Initiative's vision. The initiative aims to enhance public health by addressing social determinants of health and creating environments conducive to well-being. The course features Kuwait's experience with the Muazaz initiative as a practical model, providing trainees with exposure to both office-based and on-site evaluations. Dr. Al-Yahya noted that the training is aligned with the unified Gulf guide endorsed by the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities. She described the Muazaz initiative as a framework designed to encourage shopping malls to invest in health promotion. The framework has been approved by GCC health ministries and supports malls in enhancing health-friendly environments, making them eligible for official recognition as health-promoting centers. Dr. Al-Yahya also stressed the importance of transforming shopping spaces into environments that promote healthy living, particularly by supporting vulnerable groups such as individuals with disabilities, infants, pregnant and nursing women, and the elderly. Dr. Laila Al-Fuzaie, Director of the Healthy Mall Project at the Healthy Cities Office, echoed the initiative's significance in fostering public health and providing shoppers with a healthy and comfortable experience. She said Kuwait's development vision includes promoting community health beyond traditional healthcare services by building supportive environments that encourage healthy lifestyles. Dr. Al-Fuzaie pointed out that the Health-Promoting Mall Initiative has demonstrated the potential for integrating public health into daily life through strategic partnerships. She called for its expansion to all shopping malls and the integration of technology in raising health awareness. She also outlined the initiative's objectives, implementation standards, challenges faced, and key achievements — notably, the rise in health awareness among mall visitors. In conjunction with the training, Kuwait's Ministry of Health hosted the 24th meeting of the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities on Monday. The committee reviewed progress on the Health-Promoting Malls Project and discussed advancing from national implementation to a unified Gulf-level initiative.
Arab Times
23-06-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait calls for unified Gulf efforts to promote healthy cities
KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Dr. Amal Al-Yahya, Director of the Healthy Cities Department at Kuwait's Ministry of Health, emphasized the need for unified efforts across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to promote healthy cities, strengthen public health, and achieve sustainable development goals. Speaking on Monday at the 24th meeting of the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities, Dr. Al-Yahya highlighted the value of regional cooperation, coordination, and community participation. She noted that collaboration among various sectors is essential to realize health-focused development outcomes. Dr. Al-Yahya underscored the importance of finalizing the enhanced file on health-promoting malls and markets, calling the Healthy Cities initiative a strong platform for intersectoral collaboration. 'This initiative fosters joint action between sectors to achieve shared goals and promote public health,' she stated. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on implementing the health-promoting commercial malls project, a review of prior decisions, and preparations needed at the national level to support its rollout across the GCC. This includes capacity-building efforts, adoption of tested models, and evaluation mechanisms. As part of the meeting, a two-day training course will be held starting Tuesday, aimed at building the capacities of those managing health-promoting malls across GCC states. Participants will also conduct field visits to malls that have successfully passed previous evaluation stages. Additionally, the committee will review the schedule of upcoming evaluation visits and examine the recommendations from the Second Kuwait Conference on Healthy Cities, held last February. Discussions will focus on transforming those recommendations into an actionable and practical work plan. Dr. Al-Yahya also stressed the importance of preparing a comprehensive operational plan, increasing the number of cities registered and accredited under the World Health Organization's Healthy Cities standards, and empowering civil society to play a greater role in advancing sustainable health and development initiatives. The overarching goal, she noted, is to make tangible progress in environmental sustainability and public health across healthy cities in the Gulf region.
