Shock news! Poor Peruvian women prefer not to die while pregnant

Here's the link to a CNN article that covers a new Amnesty International report about how pregnant women in Peru die at a rate 20 to 25 times greater than in the industrialized nations. To get the gist of the message, here's an excerpt:

"Amnesty's Peru researcher Nuria Garcia said in a statement: "The rates of maternal mortality in Peru are scandalous. The fact that so many women are dying from preventable causes is a human rights violation.

"The Peruvian state is simply ignoring its obligation to provide adequate maternal healthcare to all women, regardless of who they are and where they live."

"Garcia added: "Health services for pregnant women in Peru are like a lottery: if you are poor and indigenous, the chances are you will always lose.""

How the criollo rulers of Peru must yearn for the days when the little brown people didn't complain so much. Why they should suddenly insist on their so-called 'human rights' must confuse the Republic of Lima upper class no end.

Viva investment grade. Viva, viva, viva.

what would you do for U$30 a month?

How about "get pregnant"?

Under the 'Juntos' social program, the government of Peru gives one hundred Nuevos Soles per month (S/100, which is U$31.74 right now) to all expectant mothers or mothers of children under 14. You don't get multiple amounts for multiple children, but as long as you have at least one child under 14 you get the money for four years (which is then means tested to see if you qualify for more time).

Today, El Comercio reports from the very poor Apurimac region of Peru, where women of all ages (the report mentions a girl of 12 years old and a woman of 41, and all ages in between) deliberately get pregnant to qualify for the S/100 monthly payment.

Sorry, dudettes and dude, I'm not translating this one. It's about the most depressing thing I've read this week and quite frankly I don't feel like translating it, so if you have trouble with Spanish but want to know more, put the link through Google translator. Perhaps the worst thing is that the program is so badly explained that underage girls don't know you have to be 18 to get the government handout and are turned away after getting pregnant and applying for their money. The story is truly pathetic, not as in reporting quality but as in the adjective of 'pathos'.

Viva investment grade. Viva viva viva.