MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim returns to Peru, praises social development

Kim comes back to his old home in Carabayllo where he once worked with tuberculosis patients

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is in Peru this week, returning to the place where he says his interest in poverty reduction was first piqued.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is in Peru this week, returning to the place where he says his interest in poverty reduction was first piqued.

Kim cites Peru as one of the most influential places he has visited and wants to participate in plans of social inclusion.

On his visit, Kim returned to Carabayllo, where he lived for various periods over the course of 15 years. He remarked to El Comercio in an interview that it was this district of Lima that really affected his interests in poverty alleviation and social inclusion. Over ten years ago, Kim worked with tuberculosis patients as part of his job with Partners in Health in Carabayllo and he has returned to visit.

In speaking about his experiences in Carabayllo, Kim told El Comercio that he saw that tuberculosis treatment was unfair and he set out to change that. This experience was fundamental in shaping how Kim currently looks at development.

“We’re not just about financing a macro-economic policy,” Kim noted. “Our organization is here to fight poverty, and to fight poverty in places like Carabayllo. It’s a great opportunity to remind myself and send a message to my team that all the work we do has to be based in what we can do in poor communities.”

Kim sees potential for the future of Peru as long as the focus continues to be on improving and investing in health and education. He urged the Peruvian government to see inclusion as a way to foster economic growth and promised that the World Bank will increase its programs in Peru.

Kim also noted that there is room for dramatic improvement in services in Peru and that the country could become a model for others around the world.

By Emily Culver  - Lima