Infant mortality in the UAE on the decline

Dubai: The UAE has dramatically cut down the number of infant deaths, but elsewhere in the Mediterranean region the story is heartbreaking as 510,000 newborns die every year, health officials said.

"During the four years between 2004 and 2008, the number of [infant] deaths [in the UAE] was zero," Dr Salem Al Darmaki, acting under-secretary at the Ministry of Health, said on Sunday.

He was speaking after opening a meeting in Dubai promoting maternal and neo-natal health in the Mediterranean region, organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dr Al Darmaki said the rate of infant deaths in the UAE is less than 10 for 1,000 births. He also pointed out the rate of death of newborns is less than eight for every 1,000 births.

The Ministry official said health services and mother and child care in the UAE meets international standards.