Itinga (Minas Gerais), 1/13/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking on his trip to Brazil's poor regions, declared that the Vale do Jequitinhonha cannot continue to be known as the Valley of Misery. According to Lula, his government will define priorities in the country's poor regions, "because poor people are the ones who need the government."

In the city of Itinga there are serious problems with basic sanitation, education and health. It had a hospital, but it was closed seven years ago. More than one-third of the homes in Itinga do not have bathrooms. More than one-third of the inhabitants over 10 years of age are illiterate. (AB)