Kuwait takes first place among Arab countries and 33 other nations worldwide in the Human Development Index (HDI) of the newly-released 'Arab Human Development Report 2009 : Challenges to Human Security in the Arab Countries,' issued by the UN Development Program's (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States.

Dr. Merza Hasan, Representative of Kuwait and the Arab States at the World Bank, said yesterday that Kuwait's attainment of this rank reflected the efforts exerted in the field of human development in the country, despite the challenges faced in recent years. He explained that there were a number of factors in the report, issued by the UNDP every two years, that were positive in Kuwait's case and helped boost its ranking.

He explained that in terms of the adult literacy rate (for those aged 15 and older), Kuwait registered 93.3 percent, while the number of children enrolled at all three schooling levels was at 74.9 percent. "Kuwait is also in the lead in terms of life expectancy at birth, which stands at 77.3 percent," he said, explaining that this had risen from the figure of 67.6 percent recorded in 1970 "thanks to the improved health services and the increase in awareness among citizens.

On the infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), Hasan said that this had been recorded in the report at nine per 1,000 in Kuwait, which was one of the best rates worldwide, as well as in the Middle East region. In terms of basic services, he said that Kuwait has the highest rate in terms of electricity and water services, standing at 100 percent - a percentage that no other country in the world has recorded.

Kuwait also recorded high rates in use of technology and its availability to citizens, as well as one of the highest rates of public liberties, including the freedom of expression. Hasan noted that Kuwait also recorded the lowest level of unemployment in the Arab world, at two percent, but added that there are still many challenges in this area, as there are a large number of young Kuwaitis who will need more jobs to be created, which in turn will burden the public and private sectors.

On the health sector, Hasan said the report indicated a high level of obesity among women (aged 15 and above), but noted that 98 percent of all deliveries were carried out by specialists, while the percentage of the population vaccinated against measles stands at 99 percent-one of the highest rates worldwide. On the educational index, Hasan said that Kuwait is one of the best Arab states in terms of education, noting that this has been reaffirmed by the World Bank in its reports.

He explained that as well as attaining the aforementioned high rate of adult literacy, Kuwait and Jordan together rank first among Arab states in terms of standards of educational method in its different forms, including the access to education, general equality, quality of education, and other aspects. This, he said, reflects the country's positive investment in education and learning over the decades since Kuwait's independence, noting that education is a continuous process that is handed down from one g
eneration to the next.

On the environment, Hasan said that when asked, Kuwaitis considered environmental pollution the most serious threat to human security, showing their high level of awareness of environmental issues. He said that the report noted that although there is currently no single Arab institution concerned with the effect of climate change on the region, there has been a collective effort by Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to earmark $750 million for a new fund, established at the conclusion of the OPEC mee
ting on Nov 18, 2007, to counter the effects of climate change on these countries.

Moreover, Hasan said, since the first Arab Human Development Report was issued in 2002, a deep discussion had been launched on the ability to boost human development in the Arab region and the challenges faced in this area. The report considers reform essential in the Arab region, stating that sustainable change must come from within, he said.

As for the other five member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Hasan said that Qatar ranked second among the Arab states (35th worldwide), the UAE ranked third (39th worldwide), Bahrain fourth (41st worldwide), Oman sixth (58th worldwide), and Saudi Arabia seventh (61st worldwide). On the 2009 report in general, the Kuwaiti official said that it focused on a very important issue, that of human security, which is a great challenge for all humanity.

He noted that a "human security survey" was conducted in four Arab states, including Kuwait, which was chosen for "the distinguished knowledge of its people, and having one of the highest income levels worldwide." Hasan said that the report also noted the different things that influenced people's lives: environmental security, economic security, nutrition and food security, health, dental security, government performance, and state guarantee of human security

Kuwaittimes