Study demands improvement of living standards for Arab children

A recent study by the Arab Childhood Council stressed better living standards must be secured for Arab children amid increase in children's ratio to the population, a 3.8 percent increase in fertility rates, and population growth by over 2.5 percent.

According to United Nations 2000 reports, children below 15 years of age presently account for more than 40 percent of the Arab population.

First among the challenges with regards to children's health is a high rate of infant deaths at 51/1000 babies compared to just 6/1000 babies in industrial nations. in some Arab states, the average exceeds the acceptable world average of 70 deaths per thousand infants.

The study also indicated that 3500 children below five years of age die in the Arab world every day. most of these deaths could be prevented at low costs or by immunization.

However, death rates for this age group in gulf states is close to those in the industrial nations at just nine cases for every thousand births.

Lack of sanitary water and poor hygiene are factors in these deaths, the study pointed out. it added that 45 percent of the people in the country and three percent of those in cities and urban areas do not get their need of safe water.

The study also stressed that Arab children most often suffer from malnutrition as 30 percent of Arab women suffer from malnutrition and blood pressure disorders, which increases to 50 percent during pregnancy, putting the unborn fetus at life threatening health risks.

The study recommended as solutions long term regional planning, stress on health care, education, and care for people with disabilities in addition to fighting child labor and rehabilitating young delinquents and reintroducing them to society.