Fifty seven percent of doctors and 67 percent of dentists working for the Bahrain Ministry of Health are women, the latest government figures reveal.
The data for last year shows that women are making in-roads in the healthcare sector, in particular Bahraini’s, who make up a large proportion of the ministry’s female staff.
Sixty percent of all Health Ministry employees are women and of that 81 percent are nationals, Gulf News reported.
“Female nurses make up 88 percent, while women in supervisory positions are 51 percent, specialist ranks 58 percent, and executive ranks 44 percent of Bahrainis for 2008,” Dr Mariam Al Jalahma public health and primary care assistant under-secretary, said.
Princess Sabeeka welcomed the news, but added: “Although achievements have been made to empower women, we still have more to do. We should be proud of our achievements and appreciate the contributions of women.”
Speaking at an event to mark Bahraini Women Day, Al Jalahma said life expectancy of the women in the kingdom was rising.
In 2007 the average age was 77.3 years, compared to 73.8 in 2003.
“The mortality rate of chronic diseases amongst women was reduced from 10.8 out of every 100,000 people in 2003 to 7.1 in 2007,” she said.
She said the mortality rate of mothers during pregnancy, birth and labour had also reduced.
The government of Bahrain has given the medical field high interest and allocated a large part of the state budget for medical projects, Shaikh Khalifa said, calling on doctors to set up medical plans and programs capable of training and rehabilitating doctors to ensure high quality health services, emphasizing the need for cooperation between government and private heath establishments and bodies.