Exactly one year after taking office, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Friday recapped progress made in terms of the "Social Revolution," the endeavor he first introduced during his inauguration speech.
"Despite several difficulties, we are making progress in its four cornerstones: health, education, sanitation and rural agriculture," the President underscored during his annual
Address to the Nation.
Poverty reduction, ultimate goal
As a socially-driven initiative, the Social Revolution primarily seeks to reduce poverty in the Inca country.
"We have thus set the goal to cut total poverty from the current 20.7% to 15% by 2021, and to reduce extreme poverty from today's 3.8% to 1.5% by 2021 […]," he stressed.
Agriculture
Regarding agriculture, Mr. Kuczynski referred to project and investment promotion efforts by the Ministries of Agriculture, Production, as well as Development and Social Inclusion.
"For instance, we have already irrigated 63,000 ha through Sierra Azul [Blue Highlands] program, which will help us reduce rural poverty levels," the President noted.
Government measures also include reforestation programs, seed and cattle enhancement, credit facilities to small-scale producers and market improvement.
Health
In terms of health, the 78-year-old leader listed government actions like the influenza vaccination campaign, as well as the multisectoral strategy against anemia and child stunting.
He also underlined the ongoing re-structuring of the Health Ministry's Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS), improvement of healthcare services and plans to offer healthcare staff more benefits.
Education
As for education, the President addressed the Andean nation's maths and reading comprehension improvements in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA).
Likewise, he mentioned the recently implemented 16% pay rise for teachers.
"And we have also been —gradually— improving control of university programs' quality, although much remains to be done to provide our youth with higher education that properly boosts their talents," he concluded.
Water and sanitation
Concerning water and sanitation, Mr. Kuczynski reiterated his administration's commitment to providing drinking water access, assuring coverage in all urban areas and in 84% of rural areas by the end of his term in office (2021).
"The 2021 objectives are providing an additional 4 million Peruvians with water networks and other 8 million more with sewerage services. This will require a total investment of S/50 billion [about US$15.38 billion]."
Lastly, the President anticipated further work in reforming Sanitation Service Providers (EPSs) to this end.
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