Bolivia Reduces Infant Malnutrition in Half
Bolivia Reduces Infant Malnutrition in Half
La Paz, May 26 (Prensa Latina) Bolivia reported in the last five years a 43-percent reduction of chronic malnutrition in infants, while the primary-assistance cover to pregnant women and childbirths in public centers increased.
The Health Ministry reported today that those results were achieved after implementation of the bond Juana Azurduy, a social project that will be five years old tomorrow, created by the Government to grant social assistance to pregnant women and newborn children.
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He explained that hospital cover to pregnant women increased in almost 20 percent from 2005 to 2013, while he called tangible the results in the struggle against infant mortality, which decreased from 55 to 46 per every child born alive.
Created in 2009 by President Evo Morales, the bond Juana Azurduy is an economic incentive that guarantees prenatal controls and medical care and assistance to children until they turn two years old.
http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1450581&Itemid=1
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Incredible change in a country which was controlled exclusively by and for the European descended oligarchs, who didn't even allow the indigenous people to walk on sidewalks until a revolution in 1952, nor to vote, either.
They also took their land, as Hugo Banzer did in the 1960's, put in place by a US-supported and financed coup, and he brought in white settlers from South Africa and Europe in his attempt to create a "white Bolivia."
Poor women giving birth to children with such an improved chance to live would seem like a whole new world in this environment. Getting them off to a healthy start, getting a handle over childhood diseases is a huge step forward.
I just remembered reading years ago references to the fact young Bolivian poor boys have had to drop out of school sometimes to work shining shoes, to make money to help their families. They have been so embarrassed by their poverty they started wearing masks over their faces while they did their work in town, not wanting other children and adults they had known to recognize them.
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One time Evo Morales and his Vice President Linera and others went to visit these boys and switched places with them to show solidarity with the children, and support for them, bonding.
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The changes coming for the Bolivian people have been withheld so long, and are so needed. I truly hope the corporate world won't be able to interfere in this life-saving, life-restoring process to the people who really matter here.
About 80 nursing mothers donate their milk, at Roosevelt Hospital, with which will be fed to premature and underweight babies.
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The Roosevelt has a human milk bank that has about 500 donors each month. The milk obtained benefits some 125 children who need to improve their nutritional status and development.
In 2012 the Hospital was declared "Friend of breastfeeding" as mothers teach their patients the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life of their children.
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Female smokers, women who take drugs without medical supervision, women who consume alcohol, those with chronic or infectious diseases, and those who are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases are not eligible to donate.
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http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/comunitario/Celebran-donacion-leche-materna_0_921507856.html
