Nueva Canarias-Canarist Bloc (NC-BC) has demanded from the Government of the Canary Islands an immediate action to put an end to the situation of extreme gravity that is being experienced in the ADISLAN disability care center. Deputy Natalia Santana has publicly denounced in the Social Welfare Committee of the Parliament of the Canary Islands and before the sector's counselor, María Candelaria Delgado, the deterioration of conditions in some of its services, especially in the Functional Home, where very serious health problems have been detected.
According to Santana, the facilities show a worrying lack of cleanliness, as well as the presence of bed bug and rat infestations, which directly compromises the health and well-being of the users. Added to this situation is the complaint that the food is insufficient, affecting even people who need medication and are not receiving adequate intake, which can have serious consequences for their health. “We are talking about an essential service that serves people in vulnerable situations, and what we are seeing is absolutely unacceptable,” he affirmed.
In this regard, the deputy has directly pointed out the responsibility of the counselor of the Cabildo de Lanzarote for Social Welfare, Marciano Acuña, as the ultimate responsible party for guaranteeing the quality of the service and the protection of users. Santana recalled that ADISLAN is part of the social agreement with the Cabildo de Lanzarote and is financed with public funds, which, in her opinion, “obliges a rigorous and constant supervision that is clearly not taking place.” Likewise, the deputy has requested the counselor to organize a visit to the ADISLAN center in order to verify firsthand the reported situation.
Likewise, NC-BC has wanted to convey its support to the workers of ADISLAN, highlighting the “superhuman effort” they make daily to sustain the service despite the terrible conditions in which they carry out their work. In this regard, the lack of sufficient staff has also been denounced, which is forcing professionals such as social integrators to assume tasks that do not correspond to them or for which they are not prepared, with the consequent risk to the quality of care. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the infrastructures are not adequately prepared, with both users and workers enduring temperatures above 40 degrees in summer, which further aggravates the situation and directly affects the health and well-being of all involved.
The organization has also denounced the reprisals suffered by the staff from the center's management. “Any type of disagreement is being attempted to be silenced, even going so far as to curtail fundamental rights such as union freedom,” Santana assured. In this context, he denounced the dismissal of a worker who was planning to run as a union delegate, which, he indicated, “represents a clear attempt to prevent workers from organizing and defending their rights.”
Nevertheless, NC-BC demands an urgent investigation of the facts, the immediate adoption of corrective measures and the assignment of responsibilities. “It cannot be allowed that a service financed with public money operates under these conditions nor that basic labor rights are violated. It is a matter of dignity and institutional responsibility,” concluded Santana.
