Venezuela's president urges women to have six children each 'for good of the country'
Source: The Guardian
Venezuela's president urges women to have six children each 'for good of the country'
Nicolás Maduros comment sparked outrage amid a deepening economic crisis thats led to rising rates of child malnutrition
Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá
@joeparkdan
Wed 4 Mar 2020 18.55 GMT
Last modified on Wed 4 Mar 2020 19.36 GMT
Millions of Venezuelans may have fled their country to escape a grinding socio-economic crisis, but the countrys embattled president has a novel solution: have more children.
Give birth! Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president, said at a televised event promoting a womens healthcare plan on Tuesday evening. Every woman is to have six children! Every one! For the good of the country!
The comment sparked outrage in the country where a deepening economic crisis is felt across society. Venezuelas central bank said inflation reached nearly 10,000% last year, while shortages from basic foodstuffs to medical supplies are widespread.
Child malnutrition is estimated at 13%, according to Unicef.
Venezuelas government has not published infant mortality figures since 2017, when a health ministry bulletin revealed that 11,466 children had died the previous year a 30% jump in infant mortality.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/venezuela-president-nicolas-maduro-recommends-every-woman-have-six-children-crisis