E/C.12/GMB/CO/1 support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2004. Access to health services and mortality rates 27. The Committee is concerned that there is no universal health-care coverage. It is also concerned about the low number of qualified health-care professionals and the critical shortage of health equipment and supplies. The Committee further notes with concern the high rates of maternal and infant mortality, in particular in rural areas (art. 12). In line with its general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Intensify its efforts to improve health services, including through allocating increased resources to the health sector, and ensure that particular attention is paid to the training of health extension workers and to the provision of adequate medical equipment and supplies to health facilities; (b) Take urgent steps to reduce the high rate of maternal and infant mortality and to ensure that births are assisted by a skilled attendant; (c) Take into consideration technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality (A/HRC/21/22); (d) Step up its efforts to improve access by women to basic obstetric and neonatal care, sexual and reproductive health services, and basic health-care facilities, in particular in rural areas. Access to education and dropout rates 28. The Committee welcomes the progress achieved in improving access to education and in attaining gender parity in primary school enrolment. It remains concerned, however, about the: (a) Continuing disparities between rural and urban areas in access to education and the hampering of access to education for refugee children; (b) Hidden costs of education, mainly affecting children belonging to marginalized and disadvantaged groups; (c) Poor school infrastructure, including limited access to water and sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas, and the low quality of learning and teaching materials; (d) High dropout rates, especially among girls, reportedly due to child marriage (arts. 13–14). The Committee recommends that the State party continue to increase spending on the education sector and to use it effectively with a view to reaching full primary school enrolment, attendance and completion by all children. In line with its general comment No. 13 (1999) on the right to education, the Committee also urges the State party to: (a) Strengthen various measures and programmes in order to address the problem of access to schools for children living in rural areas, and ensure that refugee children are issued with identity cards so as to facilitate their access to education; (b) 8 Address indirect and hidden costs of school education effectively;