Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) - In Bolivia there are over 4 million children and adolescents that represent 44% of the population. Unfortunately for many reasons a child continues to be a very vulnerable sector of society, due to the lack of policies that guarantee their rights, inadequate or non-existent health facilities, school education. In Cochabamba, for example, the only pediatric hospital that exists is very precarious and can barely carry out 180 visits a day and provide assistance to 350 emergency cases throughout the week. There are otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist, orthodontics, psychology, cardiology and psychiatry services.
According to local health authorities, children are born prematurely because many women do not get prenatal care. What aggravates the already precarious situation is home births and early pregnancies. In Bolivia, in fact, 18% of adolescents between 15 and 18 of age are mothers. As for education, the teaching Departmental Directorate stated that changes are being implemented in programs. It turns out that in 2014, 54 572 children were registered for the first time and only 802 students dropped out of school. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 30/03/2015)
