MUSCAT, May 12: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have exceeded several global health targets, according to a recent report by the GCC Statistical Center (GCC-Stat). The center highlighted significant strides in maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and environmental health.

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.