Venezuelan Government Reviews 2009 Projects and Achievements

Venezuelan vice-president Elias Jaua presented a balance of the government’s achievements and projects in 2009 to the National Assembly on Thursday. Highlights included 949 health projects, construction and renovation of schools, 18 million free books and magazines distributed, and 137,000 people trained in computer literacy.
Elias Jaua presenting the report to the national assembly (Prensa Vicepresidencia)

Merida, February 27th, 2010 (Venezuelanalysis.com) –Venezuelan vice-president Elias Jaua presented a balance of the government’s achievements and projects in 2009 to the National Assembly on Thursday. Highlights included 949 health projects, construction and renovation of schools, 18 million free books and magazines distributed, and 137,000 people trained  in computer literacy.

In his report he highlighted how Venezuela had increased social investment by 5.29% despite a budget reduction in light of the global financial crisis and a decrease in the price of oil.

Health

In the area of health the government carried out a record total of 949 works, including on hospitals, blood banks, emergency areas, surgery, hemodialysis, among others.

The state medicine factory produced 9 million medicines and distributed 118 million.

Two thousand students registered to study general integrated medicine through the Cuban supported Barrio Adentro program. Apart from improving and expanding this health program at its various levels, the government also began the “Baby Jesus” mission to provide better assistance to pregnant women and newborns.

Education

In 2009 in education, a highlight was the passing of the new education law with the aim of transforming the national education system, Jaua said.

The government also began the Canaima project to bring more computers into the schools. Jaua reported that the government distributed 91,155 computers to 2,729 schools, thereby benefiting 8.500 teachers and over 305,000 primary school students.

The government built 44 new schools and 86 preschool rooms, renovated 364 buildings and provided maintenance to 2,872 schools.

The government also agreed to a new collective contract for education workers, which Jaua said saw a 30% increase in their wages.

In 2009 four new universities were completed, 27 buildings were added to current universities and colleges and 103 modules of integral community medicine were set up.

116,000 new students joined the university education system and 17 new specialised programs were created.

Culture

In 2009 480 new books were published and 100 Latin American and Caribbean literary works were distributed, with a total of 883 titles printed last year and 18 million books and magazines distributed for free.

Agriculture, land and infrastructure

Under the National Seed Plan, Jaua reported a production of 6 million kilograms of certified seeds in 2009.

The government granted  BsF 3 billion ($697 million) to the public sector for the financing of agricultural projects, imported 1,500 tractors and assembled 1,300 in the country, and obtained 500 harvestors.

22 agro-industrial plants were inaugurated as well as 800 food processing and distribution centres.

Through the 600 food houses in the country, Jaua said that 450 million plates of food were provided for free to 900,000 Venezuelans.

The government also financed 60 new infrastructure projects.

The economy, trade and tourism

The state increased its national production of gold by 12% from 2008 and also discovered coltan reserves, valued at $100 billion. The mineral is used for conducting electricity.

The government also set up 2,319 satellite points in remote and hard to access areas for communications purposes. 137,000 people received training under the national plan of technology literacy, and 273,000 people were added to the total of 997,000 with home access to broadband internet.

Jaua mentioned the Guayana Socialist Plan that the government will implement this year as a process of renovation and modernisation of the basic industry companies of the country.