With the reading of the proclamation by Fernando Jiménez, held this Tuesday at the Santo Domingo Convent in Teguise, the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Carmen, patron saint of La Villa, officially began.
The event was attended, at the presidential table, by the mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort, and the Councilor for Culture and Festivities, Antonio Callero, who accompanied the speaker, who was very supported by family, professional colleagues and many friends. who did not want to miss Fernando Jiménez's best kept secret and learn about some of the facets unknown to many of a Primary Care medical professional who has been practicing his profession in La Villa for no less than 29 years.
Fernando Jiménez, who also served as councilor of the Teguise City Council from 1991 to 1999, began his proclamation by recounting some of the many experiences of the nine months he worked as a doctor on the island of La Graciosa, where he was available 24 hours a day for all residents and vacationers. In addition to consulting as a doctor in the morning, in the afternoons he had to work as a dentist or ENT assistant, to which he also added tasks of collecting water samples to know the quality from end to end of Caleta de Sebo.
His past as the "Chicken of the Syringe"
As the day in La Graciosa passed slowly for the speaker, he also dedicated some hours to participate as a monitor in the Canarian wrestling team. According to what he said, his mother, a fine seamstress, made him some wrestling clothes with fabric from a boat sail. With great humor, Fernando Jiménez said that he spent more time on the ground without being able to knock down his rival, although, yes, he came to earn the name of the "Chicken of the Syringe" at that time.
Advised by Mrs. Agustina, he related how he came to make about twelve brazas of esparto grass, managing to make his first graciosero hat. Another of Fernando's vindictive anecdotes was the one carried out when the island was left isolated due to bad weather and the medicine cabinet was empty. Then, accompanied by the watchman, Pedro Hernández, he went up and down the cliff to resupply the medicine cabinet.
Other experiences and anecdotes
The speaker also made a brief but interesting chronology about the construction of the building known as the Casa del Médico, which began to be built in 1951. According to what he said, Teguise then doubled in health infrastructures, above any other municipality in Lanzarote, including Arrecife and probably the Canary Islands, having three primary care medicine consultations.
He also told a very funny anecdote in relation to a patient who went to the office a lot with his father. According to what he said, one day that he was very busy in the middle of the street, said patient asked him when he could go to have an analysis done and if he would take the old man to collect the result, to which Fernando Jiménez, somewhat absent-minded due to the rush, replied that it was not necessary to take his elderly father to the consultation, when the patient's intention was to compare the new analysis with the one carried out in the past (the old one).
He also had very present in his proclamation his involvement and collaboration in Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero on the space for health advice on Wednesday mornings and his commitment at the head of the Association of Consumers and Users of Lanzarote (Aculanza). All this and many more experiences were told by the speaker, ending with a prayer to Our Lady of Carmen: "I have a thousand difficulties: Help me. From enemies: Save me. In my mistakes: Illuminate me. In my doubts and sorrows: Comfort me. In my illnesses: Strengthen me. When they despise me: Encourage me. In difficult times: Console me. With your maternal heart: Love me. With your immense power: Protect me. And in your arms when I die: Receive me", prayed Fernando Jiménez, ending with a cheer to the Virgen del Carmen.
Next, the mayor of Teguise presented the speaker with a sculpture of Los Diabletes de Teguise, a batch of books published about the island of La Graciosa and the insignia of the City Council. Immediately afterwards, the Villa de Teguise Polyphonic Choir, directed by Professor Nuvi Tavio, offered a varied repertoire, which was widely applauded by the audience.