The main challenges that Xiomara Castro must face in her management

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS.-When Hondurans talk about everything they expect Xiomara Castro to do during her government, it is easy to imagine Castro as Atlas carrying the world, but not as a punishment - as the Greek mythology- but as salvation. The Castro government knows that it has a rosary of things to do, but improving educational conditions, safety and health is a priority. In addition to rescuing the fragile economy broken by mismanagement, the pandemic and the Eta and Iota storms.

READ ALSO: Six unprecedented events that will occur in the inauguration of Xiomara CastroFor the experts, Castro's triumph goes beyond many promises that sound "unachievable", but now it is his turn to fulfill obligations ranging from ending the insecurity, lowering the price of fuel and, in addition, getting children back to the classroom. This is precisely one of the challenges that the Doctor of Education, Mario Alas, highlighted in educational matters, since the new government must do everything possible for students to return to face-to-face or blended attendance in 2022. “This return must be done by creating certain learning conditions. Very little will be gained if students return to classrooms without textbooks or workbooks, ”he warned.

READ: Who will attend the inauguration of Xiomara Castro? Here are some of the most outstanding A third challenge is designing a leveling plan, since many students who go to third or fourth grade do not know how to read or write because they have been "promoted", so they need a teaching process to level them. The last issue is linked to biosecurity and infrastructure, that is, that children have the necessary clothing to avoid becoming infected with covid and that educational centers have hydrosanitary conditions.

Health

As in Education, in the field of health Castro will have to deal with problems that have been dragging on from other governments. One of them is the abandoned network of health services. “There are a lot of hospitals in dilapidated condition and with a lack of personnel, personnel that must be hired,” said the president of the Association of Physicians of the Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS) and now a congressman, Carlos Umaña.

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READ: Hondurans will enjoy a cultural event during the inauguration of Xiomara CastroThe expert assured that it is necessary to build more hospitals in the municipalities and hire more health workers, including those who are protesting to have their labor rights respected. The second challenge, in his opinion, is at the macro level, since the Castro government needs a new Social Protection Law to "have a new model."

Security

And the eternal problem of violence?, they may wonder, since to improve the security of the country it is necessary to approve, reform and repeal many laws that contribute to impunity, according to the expert in security issues, retired general Luis Alonso Maldonado. In addition to the Population Security Law, Maldonado referred to the "Secrets Law", approved in 2014, but in its first session, the new National Congress, led by Jorge Cálix, repealed it. Strengthening the policy and strategy of prevention of insecurity, reviewing the budget allocation (Security Tax) and maintaining operational capacity in maritime and air spaces to attack drug activity are other issues that should be on Castro's agenda.

Economy

In the economic area, one of the most critical problems is "improving government management and that will involve government reengineering," according to Ismael Zepeda, economist at the Social Forum of External Debt and Development of Honduras (Fosdeh). For the expert, it is not only about reducing bureaucracy, but about being efficient. The fight against corruption also comes into play here, since it is the main impediment to stability and economic growth. According to Transparency International, Honduras is the second most corrupt country in Central America (after Nicaragua) and the fourth in the Americas. The second challenge is to reverse poverty and inequality, increase job creation, create a more efficient productive system and diversify exports to have greater wealth and economic dynamics that allow fair salaries for the population. For Zepeda, these two issues should be a priority, since they drag other problems, such as external and internal debt, which limits decision-making to increase budget in important areas such as health and education, among others.

Other priorities

Although Castro includes respect for human rights in his government plan, experts consider that it should be reflected in policies aimed mainly at vulnerable groups, such as the LGBTI population, women, people with disabilities and even ethnic groups. Another issue that should be a priority is Honduras' vulnerability to climate change, a problem that has been downplayed despite the fact that the country suffers the effects of this phenomenon every year.

SEE: New faces and moments of selfies, this is how the eve of the first legislature was lived in the Chamber