18:01 | Lima, Nov. 06 (ANDINA).
Peru has showed better performance worldwide towards eradicating chronic child malnutrition, ahead of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 timeline, Peru's Development and Social Inclusion Ministry (Midis) has reported.
Speaking on Tuesday at a press conference, Midis' head, Monica Rubio, said the Andean nation has recorded the best improving results by dropping the rate on chronic child malnutrition from 23% to 18%.
She stressed that currently the center of the government's social policy is children and their healthy growth, having all sectors' efforts aimed at protecting their development and safety.
The minister noted that it is possible to highlight the remarkable progress made in Peru in lowering the anemia rate and acute respiratory infections from 50% to 44% and 18% to 16%, respectively.
Moreover, Rubio pointed out these actions are part of the new "include to grow" strategy promoted by the Ollanta Humala's administration, which has also resulted in the diarrhoeal disease risk reduction from 19% to 14%.
"These achievements are a result of social policies applied in low-income segments across the country and the increase of investment in childhood which has climbed 35% to US$ 2.91 billion," the Peruvian top official said.
Indeed, Rubio underlined that investment in childhood is more profitable for medium and long run as for each dollar invested, nine dollars return, and a child well cared for throughout his early years will be a better citizen, reducing the levels of violence and delinquency.
(END) ART/RRC/LOG
Published: 11/6/2013