Despite some private international media reporting “economic chaos” and that social missions have ground to a halt with President Hugo Chavez still recovering from cancer surgery, the missions continue working.

Recently there have been advances in freely available high cost medicine and the development of the social welfare programs for children and the elderly, with all education and health facilities continuing to function normally.

Attention to children and the elderly

The two social missions for older people and for children living in poverty will begin their fourth stage since their launch in 2011, which involves training some 2,000 volunteers and 3,000 professionals.

Yadira Cordova, vice-president for the social work area for the Venezuelan national executive announced yesterday that the training in community work and pedagogy will be done through a special masters degree specifically designed for these missions.