(Prensa Latina) -"Poverty diminished in Venezuela from 55.4 percent in 1998 to 30 percent now, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), as a result of a policy of better distribution of wealth.

Likewise, extreme poverty fell from 10.6 to 7.8 during President Hugo Chávez administration, who devoted important resources to social programs that began under his leadership, called 'missions' here.

The director of INE Elias Eljuri said that the food mission Food Markets (MERCAL) has managed to reduced malnutrition by selling products at subsidized prices.

The Family shopping basket of 52 products for five persons costs 520 thousand Bolivars (241 dollars) monthly while the income is over 1.3 million Bolivars (604 dollars) per month.

Thanks to other missions like Barrio Adentro (free medical services), preventable diseases fell from 17 to 13.5 percent.

The national oil company has contributed with 11.993 billion dollars to the social and comprehensive development of the country in 2006, a new form that started to be implemented in Venezuela during Chávez government".