Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid - file photo
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Senator Ruel Reid
Information Minister Ruel Reid has revealed that the latest Survey of Living Conditions Report shows a marginal increase in poverty in Jamaica.
According to the report for 2015, poverty increased by 1.6 per cent to 21.6 per cent, compared to 20 per cent in 2014.
Speaking at Wednesday morning's Post Cabinet media briefing, Senator Reid said the government has taken note of the need for policy review to reduce the poverty rate.
He reported that according to the report, "households were consuming a large amount of goods and services, however, there was an increase in inequality over the period."
The report also noted changes in the population, such as that the declining household size was changing household structure. In addition, there was an increase in single person households or the number of persons living alone. There was also a convergence of fewer children per household.
Senator Reid said a quarter of those surveyed reported having at least one non-communicable disease (NCD) - the most common of which is Hypertension.
"In respect to access to health care services, some 48.7 per cent utilised public facilities while 46.2 per cent exclusively used private health facilities," he reported.
Absenteeism
The Information Minister added that financial difficulty was the main reason for students being absent from school.
"From the early childhood up to the secondary level and the survey reported that of the respondents, some 42.2 per cent indicated financial constraints as a problem that impacted on absenteeism from school. Overall the average absenteeism from our schools nationally is about 20 per cent," the minister pointed out.
The survey reported acceptable housing conditions for almost 73 per cent of the population in respect to outer walls, kitchen, and toilet facilities, electricity, water as well as physical space.
The document is to be tabled in Parliament.
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