Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, April 03,  2003

IDB Approves Loan for Rural Health
During its annual meeting in Milan, Italy last week, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) authorized a $6 million loan to the Costa Rican government to improve and expand health-care coverage in the country's poorest and most rural areas.
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Students Launch 'Bloody' Protest
Dumping 200 kilograms of bloody cattle bones on the street in front of the Foreign Ministry, a group of 25 university students staged a graphic anti-war protest yesterday dressed as victims of a bombing attack.
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Underprivileged Teens Give Back to Community
As a way of giving back to the community, five teenage graduates of a program for underprivileged youth called "End Exclusion, Create Values" are organizing a painting workshop for some 60 elementary school students at Escuela Central in Desamparados, south of San José.
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C.A. Will to Present CAFTA Agricultural Proposals
SAN SALVADOR (AFP) -- The five Central American nations participating in this week's trade talks with the United States today will present the U.S. trade team with the region's agricultural proposal for the eventual free-trade agreement (CAFTA), announced Salvador's Vice-Minister of Finance Eduardo Ayala.
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Book Club
The first Reading Club of Costa Rica invites everyone to the analisis of the book "Vivir para Contarla" written by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez, at 7 p.m. at the Mexico Institute, Los Yoses. Info: 305-6074.

Improving your English through Reading
Dr. Neil J. Anderson, Professor in M.A.TESOL Program Department of Linguistics and English Language Brigham Young University, Utah, USA, at 7 p.m., CCCN San Pedro, Barrio Dent. Info: 207-7577.

Una Fiesta Grande
Organized by Neopostal this fiesta includes a concert by In Situ and pianist Manuel Obregón, paintings, circus shows, fashion parade, the presentation of DJ Ezequiel Marinoni and digital proyection, at 8 p.m., at CaféArte Olivia, 2 Km. west of Forum Office Complex, Santa Ana highway, inside Club Hípico La Caraña. Info: 281-0158.

IDB Approves Loan for Rural Health
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

During its annual meeting in Milan, Italy last week, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) authorized a $6 million loan to the Costa Rican government to improve and expand health-care coverage in the country's poorest and most rural areas.

"This money will be used by the Public Health Ministry and Social Security System (Caja) to prevent and treat illnesses, and to purchase new medical equipment for public health-care facilities in many of the country's poorest areas," Finance Minister Jorge Walter Bolaño explained.

The loan is part of an $8 million government project aimed at decentralizing and strengthening the country's health-care system. The project seeks to improve the quality of rural health-care facilities in order to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates, prevent underage pregnancies and contain the spread of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

"These programs are a key part of the current administration's national-development strategy and a sign of its commitment to reducing poverty," Health Minister María del Rocío Sáenz explained. "With this loan, we hope to zero-in on the specific needs of poor, rural communities."

At the Milan meeting, IDB President Enrique Iglesias congratulated Costa Rica for its efforts to improve tax collection and to balance the fiscal budget while continuing to address important social issues such as education and health.

Students Launch 'Bloody' Protest
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

DEM BONES: Protestors litter street with cattle bones. TT/ Tim Rogers

Dumping 200 kilograms of bloody cattle bones on the street in front of the Foreign Ministry, a group of 25 university students staged a graphic anti-war protest yesterday dressed as victims of a bombing attack.

Having smeared their clothes and bodies in red paint to simulate blood, the students lay on the steps in front of the ministry and pretended to be dead, as loud speakers blasted air-raid sirens and sounds of bombs exploding.

Traffic slowed to a crawl and drivers rubbernecked to get a glimpse at the spectacle. A crowd of curious passersby joined police in looking on as the protesters lay motionless.

"We are here to protest through artistic expression," one of the students said. "We want Costa Ricans to witness a little of the pain that the Iraqi people are suffering."

At the end of the peaceful demonstration, the actor/protestors stood up and held a large banner reading: "No war in the name of our country."

Yesterday's protest was the fourth anti-war demonstration since last Friday. Protestors are demanding that President Abel Pacheco remove Costa Rica from the coalition of countries supporting the war -- the so-called "list of shame."

Read Friday's TT print edition for more on war.