KUWAIT: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have made significant strides in advancing public health and well-being, surpassing several global health targets, the Gulf Statistical Center (GCC-Stat) reported on Sunday. In its latest report, the center highlighted remarkable progress in key health indicators, particularly in maternal and child health.

The GCC states collectively outperformed the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for maternal mortality, which aims to limit maternal deaths to no more than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. The highest recorded maternal mortality rate in the region was just 17.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. Medical supervision of childbirth remains near-universal across the GCC, with over 98 percent of births attended by healthcare professionals, according to 2022 data.

The report also noted that the under-five mortality rate across the GCC remains significantly below the global target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030, reaching a maximum of 10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. Similarly, the neonatal mortality rate has met the global benchmark of fewer than 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.

HIV infections across the region remain minimal and below global averages, with the worldwide rate standing at 0.17 per 1,000 uninfected individuals. In terms of road safety, death rates from traffic accidents in the GCC ranged from 3 to 14.1 per 100,000 population in 2022—lower than the global average of 15 per 100,000. Meanwhile, deaths attributed to air pollution were also below international levels, ranging from 16 to 45 per 100,000 population, compared to the global average of 93 per 100,000.

Deaths due to unsafe water, sanitation, or hygiene were nearly negligible in the region, with the highest recorded rate not exceeding 0.1 per 100,000 population. Vaccination coverage across GCC member states has reached near-universal levels, with rates exceeding 97 percent—well above the global average of 84 percent. The Gulf Statistical Center, based in the Sultanate of Oman, serves as the official body for data, statistics, and information pertaining to the GCC. It supports the efforts of national statistical authorities and planning institutions across member states, reinforcing regional cooperation in the field of statistical development. — KUNA