Maternal & Infant mortality rates high but TT poised for positive economic growth TRINIDAD and Tobago is poised for positive growth in 2014. This from Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr. Bhoe Tewarie, as he launched the Governments Progress Report for 2013-2014 at the Trinidad Hilton on Wednesday. There have been declines in the homicide detection rates, the Food Import Bill and predictable growth for the economy for 2014. We had an increase in GDP and this is very important because it has to do with a resumption of growth. We had an increase in the number of newly-created businesses in 2013, almost 2,200 new businesses were created in 2013. We have the non-petroleum sector of the GDP increasing. We want the energy sector to grow but we want the rest of the energy sector to grow faster than the energy sector. However, Minister Tewarie knocked the quality of service in the country in several sectors, particularly the health sector which he said has been responsible for an increase in the maternal and infant mortality rate. Increase in the number of physicians from 22.5 to 26.3 per 10,000 persons in T&T. Thats good. The target of 25 nurses per 10,000 has been exceeded and in fact it is almost double that at 41 per 10,000 persons. But there are serious areas for improvement. The mortality rate in 2013, maternal mortality rate is estimated at 20 per 100,000 live births and the Under 5 mortality rate in 2013 is estimated at 13.2. Both of these numbers are just too high and you cannot have babies dying in the system and mothers dying in childbirth. Minister Tewarie said poverty still remains a key area which Government is working assiduously to address. In poverty reduction human capital, the percentage of students passing the SEA has grown. So it is now estimated at 91.1. That is good for the country. The participation rate in tertiary education has gone up to 57% which means that we are going to achieve the 60% in 2016. And what has also gone up to is the graduation rate. I think it has gone up from 38%. So I think those are very, very positive things but there are areas for improvement. We are now doing a poverty survey. We think that the poverty rate is about 14% now but we dont have the hard evidence to say so. (Source: C)
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:34:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015