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To ensure equity in the distribution of the fruits of growth, the Government
has also doubled the efforts to improve the living conditions of the
populations by devoting 27.6% of the national budget to the funding of social
sectors like health and education. This has made it possible to offer free
primary education (free school supplies, school fees and school feeding),
ensure availability of first aid kits for complete treatment of malaria among
under-five children (178,242 kits) and pregnant women (38,742 kits),
purchase and distribute insecticide-treated bed nets on the entire national
territory.
Efforts were also deployed, through the different development projects and
programmes aimed at enhancing the welfare of the populations (social
housing, salary increment, equipment of farmers, subsidies for products of
wide consumption, etc.) and development of infrastructure to support
production.
2.6. Poverty reduction
The results of the 2009/2010 general survey on the living conditions of
households showed a decline in the incidence of poverty from 46.4% in 2003
(for a threshold of CFAF 82,672 per adult per year) to 43.9% in 2009/2010
(with a poverty threshold estimated at CFAF 108,454).
In order to significantly reduce poverty in the country, the Government has
adopted the SCADD. This strategic policy document aims at achieving a
strong, sustained and quality economic growth, with multiplying effect on
the level of improvement of incomes, the quality of life of the population with
due respect for the principle of sustainable development.
In that regard, in 2012, the estimations of social expenditures represented
7.5 % of GDP. The Government has intensified the poverty reduction
measures through important pro-poor programmes such as the school
feeding system, financial support for the elderly, the money transfer system
for the two main towns and food security programmes. In the framework of
the Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy (AGSDS), the
Government
has
increased
the
expenditures
devoted
to
agricultural