Arab Maghreb union, strategic choice, premier
Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 6/8/2001

Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi stressed the importance of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), saying the edification of the union is a priority strategic choice for the survival of Maghreban people.

This came in an opening address read out on behalf of the Prime Minister by Moroccan minister of higher education, Najib Zerouali, before the thirtieth Maghreban medical congress held in Casablanca June 7-9 with the participation of delegations from Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia.

The Prime Minister insisted that the new world order based on the emergence of new regional blocs dictates to make of the UMA construction a priority, strategic choice.

Youssoufi also insisted on the imperative necessity to reform the health system in Maghreban countries and to adopt a new approach so that the progress scored in medical sciences be beneficial to all citizens.

Touching on medical coverage, he said there is an average of 67 physicians per 100,000 inhabitants while the rate is of 76/100.000 in developing countries compared to 287/100.000 in industrialized countries.

The rate of women's death at delivery is still high in the Maghreb despite the improvement recorded in some countries of the region, he added.

The Prime Minister praised Maghreban countries' efforts to generalize populations access to immunization saying that despite the constraints facing public health, children's immunization rate reached 90 percent.

The Maghreban medical congress is convening under the topic "the reform of the health system."

Previous Stories:
  Morocco says Sahara issue impedes activation of Magreb structures   (3/27/2001)
  Morocco voices wish to see Maghreban union revived   (2/13/2001)
  Rabat hosts Maghreban seminar on promotion of human rights and peace culture   (5/1/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search