Venezuela makes progress in achieving UN development goals
2009-07-13 10:56:44
CARACAS, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela is making progress in achieving UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for reducing extreme poverty and infant mortality as well as extending life expectancy, President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday.
Extreme poverty in Venezuela was 9.4 percent in 2007, down from 29.8 percent in 2003.
The infant mortality rate was 13.7 per 1000 live births in 2007, down from 19 per 1000 live births in 1998. The figure in the continent is 27 per 1000 live births.
According to the president, seven new vaccines were applied to the newborns across the nation in 2008 alone.
Venezuelans have an average life expectancy of 73.6 years, compared with 70.6 years for Latin Americans as a whole.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/13/content_11700455.htm