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25 Apr 2006 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, April 25, 2006
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Health Ministry Report
Finds
Gender Discrepancies
in Health Care
Costa Rican men and women face unique challenges in terms of health and employment, according to a study by the Public Health Ministry and the Pan-American Health Organization (OPS) presented yesterday.
(Click for more)
Fire in Heredia Kills Four
Three children ages 6, 4 and 2 and one 18-year-old died yesterday in a house fire in Barreal de Heredia, north of San José, according to firefighters supervisor Johnny Nuñez. Their genders and names were unavailable.
(Click for more)
Earthquake Felt in
Central
Pacific, Central Valley
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook the central Pacific towns of Quepos and Herradura and the southern Buenos Aires area and was slightly felt in the Central Valley Sunday night, according to a statement from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI), based at Universidad Nacional (UNA).
(Click for more)
Public Security Ministry Promotes
Community Security Program
The Public Security Ministry recently stepped up efforts for its Neighborhood Watch Program to educate the public on how to keep their environs safe, according to a statement from the ministry.
(Click for more)
Unionists Ask Arias to Seek
Oil Agreement with Chávez
The National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) asked President-elect Oscar Arias to seek an agreement with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to purchase cheaper fuels.
(Click for more)
April 25
Piano Concert
Pianists Josué González and Daniela Rodó and the Youth National Orchestra perform, 8 p.m., National Theater, San José.
Play “Historias del Fusil”
Performed by second-year students at the National Theater Workshop, directed by Arnoldo Ramos, opens tonight and runs through Saturday, 8 p.m. (in Spanish), Teatro Oscar Fessler, Ca. 25/32, Av. 13, #2225, Barrio Escalante. Info: 221-1273.
Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Health Ministry Report Finds
Gender
Discrepancies in Health Care
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Costa Rican men and women face unique challenges in terms of health and employment, according to a study by the Public Health Ministry and the Pan-American Health Organization (OPS) presented yesterday.
The two-year study examined the role of gender in various aspects of health, including mortality, sickness and violence, explained María Luz Rojas, a member of the Public Health Ministry team that carried out the study.
For example, women live an average of 4.5 years longer than men, and Costa Rica 's average life expectancy for both genders is the highest in Latin America (78.7 years).
Investigators also saw differences in the types of violent acts men and women are exposed to -- men are more likely to be victims of violence outside the home such as homicides, suicides and traffic accidents, while women are more likely to experience domestic violence.
The study was carried out in collaboration with the National Institute for Women (INAMU), the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC), the Costa Rican Social Security System (Caja) and the Child Welfare Office (PANI) with the goal of uncovering evidence of inequality between the sexes and examining its effects on health and life opportunities, according to a statement from the Public Health Ministry.
Employment is another factor taken into account. The study concluded that though the number of employed women has grown 6% over the past 15 years, the unemployment rate for women in 2004 (8.5 per every 100 inhabitants) surpassed that of men (5.4 per every 100 inhabitants).
Considering these results, the Public Health Ministry suggested that public institutions work together to address gender disparities and provide statistics showing their progress in bridging the gender gap, Rojas said.
Fire in Heredia Kills Four
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Three children ages 6, 4 and 2 and one 18-year-old died yesterday in a house fire in Barreal de Heredia, north of San José, according to firefighters supervisor Johnny Nuñez. Their genders and names were unavailable.
The children, who apparently were under the care of the 18-year-old, climbed to the second level of the house to escape flames, but became trapped and died from smoke inhalation, Núñez said.
Firefighters do not know the cause of the fire and are investigating the incident.
Earthquake Felt in Central Pacific, Central Valley
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook the central Pacific towns of Quepos and Herradura and the southern Buenos Aires area and was slightly felt in the Central Valley Sunday night, according to a statement from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI), based at Universidad Nacional (UNA).
The earthquake, whose epicenter was 15 kilometers southwest of Dominical, on the southern Pacific coast, began at 9:38 p.m.
-Tico Times
Public Security Ministry Promotes
Community Security Program
The Public Security Ministry recently stepped up efforts for its Neighborhood Watch Program to educate the public on how to keep their environs safe, according to a statement from the ministry.
Groups from 155 communities all over the country are participating in the program by creating security committees composed of neighbors who collaborate with the Public Security Ministry to watch out for drug trafficking, domestic violence, child sexual exploitation and general delinquency, the statement said.
Additionally, 117 people were trained as leaders to monitor community security committees and form new committees.
-Tico Times
Unionists Ask Arias to Seek
Oil Agreement with Chávez
The National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) asked President-elect Oscar Arias to seek an agreement with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to purchase cheaper fuels.
At a press conference yesterday, ANEP asked Arias to “put aside absurd ideological prejudices and think in the national interest” and referred to Guatemala, where President Oscar Berger met with Chávez to seek cooperation for petroleum.
Chávez has confirmed his presence at Arias' inauguration ceremony May 8 in San José, and the association asked Arias to take advantage of this visit to make Chávez a proposal concerning petroleum.
“An agreement with Venezuela, plus a law to reduce the excessive fuel tax in Costa Rica, would be a great relief to Costa Rican workers,” according to a statement from ANEP.
Costa Rica 's gas is the most expensive in Central America; regular gas costs $3.38 per gallon.
Last year, Venezuela was the main provider of gasoline to Costa Rica, representing 37.4% of the country's total sales, followed by France (13%), Aruba (12%), Brazil (11%) and the United States (11%).
Costa Rica spent $1 billion on petroleum in 2005, marking a 45.2% increase over 2004's $700 million, according to official data.
-ACAN-EFE