El Salvador health statistics
The comments on my recent post about the Millennium Challenge Account spun off into questions about El Salvador's health care system. These questions are important as Mauricio Funes comes into office saying he is going to increase the amount of spending on healthcare, particularly for the poor and alter the way healthcare resources are distributed. To assist in the discussion, here are some of the most recent statistics from the World Health Organization:
Life expectancy in El Salvador:
1990 - 58 years for men, 69 years for women
2000 - 67 years for men, 74 years for women
2007 - 68 years for men, 75 years for women
In 2007, the average life expectancy for men in the Americas was 73 years and 78 for women.
Health expenditures in El Salvador were 6.0% of gross domestic product in 2006, for which 61.8% was from government spending and 38.2% from private sources.
El Salvador generally measured better than other countries in Central America on these health measures, other than Costa Rica. El Salvador was generally lower on the statistics than both Cuba and the United States.
I do have one unanswered question about these statistics. The reports lists El Salvador's population as 6.8 million, when the population reported by the 2008 census was less than 6 million. Using a smaller population as a denominator would cause many of these statistics to look worse.
| Statistic | El Salvador | Americas Avg. |
| % children dying before age 5 | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Measles immunization | 98% | 93% |
| Maternal mortality per 100,000 | 170 | 99 |
| Access to improved drinking water | 84% | 94% |
| Access to improved sanitation | 86% | 87% |
Life expectancy in El Salvador:
1990 - 58 years for men, 69 years for women
2000 - 67 years for men, 74 years for women
2007 - 68 years for men, 75 years for women
In 2007, the average life expectancy for men in the Americas was 73 years and 78 for women.
Health expenditures in El Salvador were 6.0% of gross domestic product in 2006, for which 61.8% was from government spending and 38.2% from private sources.
El Salvador generally measured better than other countries in Central America on these health measures, other than Costa Rica. El Salvador was generally lower on the statistics than both Cuba and the United States.
I do have one unanswered question about these statistics. The reports lists El Salvador's population as 6.8 million, when the population reported by the 2008 census was less than 6 million. Using a smaller population as a denominator would cause many of these statistics to look worse.
Comments
On every recent report Ive found on El Salvador's population, they all seem to use that 7 million statistic. I don't know why though. Its been well over a year since the census was figured.
1. Yes, the health statistics would be much, much, much worse if they use the current census data, which, according to the official figures (El Salvador Ministry of Economy) is 5,744,113. For reference, please see a La Prensa Grafica article http://www.laprensagrafica.net/nacion/1056295.asp
This census has been disputed, largely on the basis that it revealed a much lower population than was expected. I participated as an observer in the census, and I can assure you these people went everywhere.
These results would also have the effect of drastically increasing the homicide rate. Another reason the census results were so strongly challenged was that they have the effect of changing political demographics involved with political parties.
Item 2: I've always been impressed with this blog, and it would be a shame if random, racist A-holes like Mr. White Power ruined it. White Power and Racism bullshit have plenty of other forums. Free speech has nothing to do with it.
To all you other comment writers -- trying to stay on topic would be a good thing, although I won't delete a post for going off topic unless it is spam. The other thing which would improve the readability of the discussion is for you to give yourself a name for your posts. That way we can follow who is responding to whom and it might start to resemble a conversation.
I'm not sure what prompted this sudden batch of commenting, but it's fine with me as long as you are attacking each other's ideas and not attacking the person.
I dont know if you're referring to me Tim, but what I meant was the sudden influx of poster's who write those racist comments and the influx of posters who don't identify themselves. I wasn't directing criticism to your blog itself. Thats not what I meant.
There you have it. For the next 125 years, Genocide was commited on the northamerican native american population.
At least the beneficiary of murder ("We won our freedom") admits murder was the method by which power/freedom was attained to express his/her opinion.
Here's a guantlet throw-down: Yo, Everybody, listen up!: Identify yourselves next time you post, so we can better follow the thread of the conversation...Please!
For purposes of civility, argument, coherence, and clarity.
Thank you all:-)
OMG you really are an ignoramous, aren't you! Lexington and Concord were confrontations between the American Colonialists and the British Red Coats. FYI that was the Revolutionary War. But then, why do I waste my time on morons.
Oh, and another bit of news for you, I guess you haven't realized that what you call "native american population" were peoples who displaced those before them. It's all just one big merry-go-round all over the world. But silly ideologues like you, like to take a snap-shop of history and run with it as if you had discovered the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Mankind is corrupt and greedy by nature and you're right there in the middle of it. But take comfort in the fact that everyone is stupid, ...just of different topics. You're problem is not realizing your own limitations. Try being a patriot to your ideals and go to Cuba and cut some sugarcane at the next zafra.
And you state: "At least the beneficiary of murder ("We won our freedom") admits murder was the method by which power/freedom was attained to express his/her opinion"
In response: First of all, check-out the definition of murder in the dictionary, then look-up the work "imbecile" in the encyclopedia. By doing so, you can look forward to learing something, and I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised to find a familiar face with strong family traits when you do. Get on with it.
Cuba was, two generations ago, the second richest country in Latin America. Most of its health and life expectancy statistics were on par with the Europe of that time.
El Salvador cannot be compared to Cuba. Historically, ES has been a backwater since time immemorial, and extremely poor.
The comparison you make to Central America is a lot more apropos. In particular, note our little backwater is better off than the former capital of Guatemala and certainly much better off than Nicaragua and Honduras.
Not to say that there isn't a lot of misery caused by unbridled government intervention in all areas of the economy, but come on. We could be a lot worse off.
I compared to Cuba because there was a lot of discussion about Cuban healthcare in the Millennium Challenge post comments. That being said, Cuba is no longer anything like the richest country in Latin America, but has produced good health outcomes (and trains many doctors who practice in El Salvador).
I agree with you that the relevant comparison is with the other countries in Central America, and that El Salvador generally does better than its neighbors other than Costa Rica (subject to my caveat about the population stats). But there is no reason we can't hope for better.
It's http://www.ted.com/
index.php/talks/hans_rosling
_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve
_ever_seen.html
As for any comparisions with Cuba, what actually should be compared are the Cubans themselves. We have the Cubans who are stuck on the Island, and we have those who have fled to South Florida.
NOW THAT IS A COMPARISON!
I sense that there are a lot of unresolved feelings that people have, which they are willing to express at any given opportunity!
I guess the obvious response to your question is that all countries have the obligation to protect their national sovereignty and their borders. We are a land of laws, and withing those laws, we have devised fair rules equitable immigration quotas for entry into our great country. Although we have set rules and norms, there those few undesirables who do not respect or abide by any law, but these cretins seems to thing that our laws do not apply to them, and they persist in sneaking across our borders in detriment of those honest immigrants who do follow the rules. So, regarding your question, it's as complicated as it is simple. The U.S. welcomes all immigrants who come here obeying and respecting the terms of our laws, but we cannot accept illegals who break our laws and who are only concerned with their perceived rights and come here to take advantage of our charity, our heal care, our education and our unique and overflowing good will to all mankind.
Paul Aparcio
Phoenix.
I understand that one has to protect their borders from illegal immigrants. But that still does not answer my question. How does a blog about Health statistics in ES turn into a racist slander about 'commies' and Cuban's? like I said before it seems that people will take any opportunity to blame illegal immigrants for their countries problems... that's all.
The problem isn't health care or even poverty. Those countries has been the showcase of poverty from before the Spanish conquest. Fact is that these are poor countries, but we can't accept them all and just leave quasi commie rulers in their homelands playing their hero, Fidel Castro and wearing military style fatigues and puffing on Cuban cigars.
Little wonder that Cubans want to get our of their island hell hole, even risking it all in shark infested waters because they yearn for freedom. I know; been there, done that.
Felix Rodriguez
Cochabamba
When the "campesinos" were blown away by BIRIS and former CIA-thugs (like you?) they decided to immigrate to pick broccoli in South Texas: marginally less dangerous.
The latest about U.S. "counter-insurgency doctrine"? Same-old, same-old.
U.S. involved in extra-judicial, and mass killings? Deja vu, Felix:
The United Nations Special Rapportur:
UN Rapporteur Calls for Probe of US Killings Abroad
"A top UN official is calling for a probe into the killings of innocent civilians by US forces and private contractors. Philip Alston, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said many US military strikes, shootings and drone attacks have killed scores of people without any accountability.
Philip Alston: “The government has failed to effectively investigate and punish lower-rank soldiers for such deaths and has not held senior officers responsible under the doctrine of command responsibility. Worse, it has effectively created a zone of impunity for private contractors and civilian agents by only rarely investigating and prosecuting them.”
Alston says the US should establish a national commission of inquiry and appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the killings of innocents abroad."
I love it that we have the most powerful armed forces the world has ever known. And if a flea happens to bite us, we simply smile and show restraint because we are top dog, the top of the food chain and that's why the world wants to come to our sacred shores. You people included. We know your innermost secrets.
You see, by the simple act of you physically being here, that says it all. Obviously you're not as stupid as the things you write for the ignorant masses to digest.
An important rule of thumb for you not to forget is that he who has the gold makes the rules. Oh, and regarding that long forgotten Salvadoran civil war you keep bringing up, it was irrelevant then, as it's irrelevant now.
What I find most amusing about that Mickey Mouse war was that when the peace accords were signed, the ERP commander "Atilio" made off with the FMLN war chest. He took it all, all the ill gotten monies from every kind of criminal endeavors imaginable. This is the same guy who murdered his Pal, Roque Dalton, and latter excused himself by saying that it was "simply errors of youth." Wow, what a guy! I hear that "Atilio" now lives the life of a gentleman with his wife and family, and that he like to dabbles as a political critic.
Isn't that amusing... Like the saying in spanish goes, "Cada camaron tiene su sacador."
Felix Rodgriguez
Cochabamba
Your patent cynicism, paternalism, imperial mind-set, and "might-makes-right" ethics are revolting.
Thus, unending rebellion against your pernicious ideology.
I'm guessing from the waves of Cubans that come over here, that they use the health care system to get srong enough to row their inner tubes across the Florida Staits, and of course they need to read so they can follow a compass and read the nautical maps.
So, aside for Cuban health care and reading instruction, there isn't much to stay there for. If there was, then why do they all want to risk their lives cominng over here in flimsy float tubes and rafts.
Poor pitiful people. Been there, done that.
Felix Rodriguez
Cochabamba
I'm sure that's why all the world has a Health System, its so that we are strong enough to row to the US shores!! Cos' that's what its all about... Living in America!
I'm sure Cuban's want to abandon their award winning Health System to go to the US (cos' their welfare system is so much better???)
I am not sure if you are writing this blasphemy to stir things up, but I can assure you that there are other countries out there, that are on par (if not better off) than the US....Not everyone is trying to get into the US. Some people want to get out!!
""Atilio" made off with the FMLN war chest. He took it all, all the ill gotten monies from every kind of criminal endeavors imaginable."
1) Proto-FMLN organizations in the late 1970s held members of the Poma and Borgonovo clans as a strike against El Salvador's landed aristocracy and their repressive army and security forces. Funds secured were reinvested in an alternative security force that better protected most rural-dweller's interests.
2) How did Villalobos get to England? I suggest you ask the U.N.s Alvaro de Soto, who might have set aside monies from the UN's "reintegration fund" for Villalobos to do course work at Oxford (finding himself thrown in with Columbia's current president).
3) As for what happened to the 1970s funds? By 1992 the exhaustion of funds as well as other types probably had set in; there certainly was no million dollar a day hand out like the FAES and their top officers had received in blood money from the US throughout the war.
For the FMLN's part, I believe no one was running off with cash because there wasn't any, as there shouldn't have been.