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 Health & Beauty | January 2007 
Calderon Kicks Off Health Insurance Program for Newborns
 Ioan Grillo - Associated Press
| | About 50 million Mexicans live in poverty, the main force that drives millions to head north and look for work in the United States. |
Mexico's conservative President Felipe Calderon kicked off a health insurance program to cover all infants born under his administration on Monday, answering leftist critics that his government only looks after the rich.
Picking up a crying baby in his arms in a maternity ward in the poor town of Yautepec, 60 miles (90 km) south of the capital, Calderon said the program should reduce infant mortality rates which are as high as one 1 in 10 in Mexico's most impoverished communities.
"The shortage of medical intention and health problems is the most painful face of poverty," Calderon said. "I know the anguish of parents that have to confront the enormous costs," of medical coverage.
About 50 million Mexicans live in poverty, the main force that drives millions to head north and look for work in the United States.
Under the new program, all babies born since Calderon took office on Dec. 1 will be applicable for a national health insurance program. The money has been provided by a 9.3 percent increase on health programs approved in the 2007 budget.
A career politician from the conservative National Action Party, Calderon narrowly won last year's election against fiery leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who promised to uplift Mexicans living in poverty. Calderon focussed his campaign on law and order and job creation while portraying his rival as dangerous extremist.
Lopez Obrador claims Calderon conspired with outgoing President Vicente Fox to rig the election and has named himself the legitimate Mexican president. Today, he will launch his own television show to criticize Calderon, who he says is a puppet of Mexico's rich business elite. |
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