Moroccan government announces plan to develop system for identification of needy people
The Moroccan government is planning to develop a system for the identification of needy people who will be eligible to free services, mainly in health, housing, food and social assistance.
The announcement was made by Moroccan secretary of state of cooperation, Aicha Belarbi, who is taking part in the Hague forum on population held this February 8-12 to follow up recommendations of the world conference on population and development held in Cairo in 1994.
The Moroccan official stressed that Moroccan authorities have made of population issues a priority on the basis of the close link existing between population and development.Therefore, she went on, the socialist-led coalition government, appointed last March, is basing its program on economic development, good governance, the respect of human rights, democratization of institutions and the general welfare of citizens.
She cited in this vein the issue of unemployment among the youth which is the object of a large national debate and added that enterprises have been requested to join the government-led mobilization to reduce unemployment, through a training-integration program for young diploma-holders.
According to the Moroccan official, Morocco has adopted, following the Cairo conference, a sound population policy through a set of measures, including the creation of a ministry in charge of population affairs.
Regarding Morocco's endeavors to reduce social gaps, she stressed that Morocco is endeavoring to enforce the "first program of social priorities," which is the first part component of the national social development strategy which seeks to reduce poverty, generalize basic education, improve mother and child health and promote women status.
Morocco has started to reap the fruits of its efforts, she said, as mothers death dropped by 33% in five years and is currently standing at 228 death cases for each 1,000 deliveries while infant mortality is now estimated at 37 %.
In conforming with the Cairo conference recommendations, Morocco is consolidating cooperation and partnership with the relevant NGOs and is firmly committed to share its experience and expertise with other southern countries, Belarbi said, conceding, however, that there is a long way to go as population is growing in a rapid pace.
On Monday, Morocco was elected vice-chairman of the Hague Forum that is bringing together government delegates and non-governmental organizations to examine accomplishments made by the 179 countries signatory of the Cairo Declaration and identify constraints and priority measures.