MOH News

The Kingdom Witnesses Decline in Mortality Ratio among Babies and Children under 5 Years during 2012
27 October 2013
The mortality ratio among children under 5 years has significantly declined in the Kingdom from 44 deaths per thousand in 1990 to 18.7 deaths per thousand in 2012. In addition, the babies' mortality ratio declined from 34 deaths per thousand in 1990 to 16.2 deaths per thousand in 2012.
 
Moreover, the maternal mortality ratio has declined from 48 cases per one hundred thousand women, as recorded in 1990, to 14 cases per one hundred thousand in 2012.
 
Such figures were mentioned within the worksheet submitted by Dr. Mohammad bin Omar Ba-Sulaiman, the MOH Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare, who acts as a member in the Saudi delegation participating in the meetings of the fourth session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Health Ministers, which was concluded in Jakarta yesterday evening. During his speech, Dr. Ba-Sulaiman discussed the health situation in the Kingdom, and the millennium developmental goals. It is noteworthy that the Saudi delegation was headed by His Excellency the Minister of Health.
 
Dr. Ba-Sulaiman made clear that the Kingdom -All praise is due to Allah- has been able to achieve several health care goals ahead of the 2015 schedule as a result of the support paid by the wise leaders. According to the achieved progress, the remaining projects are expected to be completed before the end of the millennium. Such projects include helping more than 98% of population to access easily to health services through the primary health care centers, and enabling 98.5% of pregnant women to follow up pregnancy programs with a rate of at least 4 visits to the physician; as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
 
Within the same vein, Dr. Ba-Sulaiman noted that the Kingdom seeks to increase the rate of immunizations against children diseases to 98.2%. Dr. Ba-Sulaiman also discussed the situation in the OIC countries in general, including the large differences among countries, as well as the proposals offered to support countries facing difficulties, and the efforts to be exerted during the coming two years.
 
On the other hand, the Kingdom submitted a proposal for the period after 2015, calling upon countries to focus on some health care problems, such as chronic diseases, care of the elderly people and high-risk groups, reinforcement of prevention programs, and promotion of health affairs, in order to reach the goal of the comprehensive health service.
 
It is worth mentioning that the Conference discussed a number of topics that were included on the agenda. The attendants also reviewed the report of the Secretary General of the Islamic Cooperation Organization on the health sector activities, as well as the report of the of the Health-associated Steering Committee affiliated to the Islamic Cooperation Organization, in addition to the ten-year strategic action plan on health in the member states of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (2012 – 2022), as well as the program's executive plan.
 
On the agenda, also, are seminars for discussing a number of topics, most importantly the combat of tuberculosis and malaria, and eradication of polio, as well as putting an end to the preventable death of mothers and children. That is to be added to accelerating development by 2015 and beyond. Other topics have to do with nutrition and stunted growth, as well as autonomy in the provision and manufacturing of drugs and vaccines, in addition to the healthy lifestyle and the combat of non-communicable diseases.
 
 




Last Update : 30 October 2013 10:49 AM
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