The high number of vaccinated people and the low incidence of positive cases of Covid-19 makes us think that we are probably reaching the end of the tunnel of the health pandemic and approaching what we knew as "normality."
Despite all the difficulties of confinement, hospital pressure, lives of loved ones sadly lost, ERTES, etc., I have the feeling that the institutions and public administrations of Lanzarote did not do their homework to prepare and prevent the other pandemic that we are beginning to face today with catastrophic consequences: the social crisis.
Since I assumed the responsibility as Insular Secretary of Welfare of Nueva Canarias-Lanzarote I have been quite clear about it. My job is to sit down and listen to as many third sector associations as possible, those that do essential work for the most needy and which provide the service that public administrations should assume. It is curious, because when you get in touch with them they are surprised that you are interested, since we are not in pre-campaign or election campaign.
The mere fact of requesting a meeting, listening and, as far as possible, solving some demands, makes social groups see that we are going with sincerity. The connection with all the third sector associations is overwhelming. To a certain extent it is normal, my partner Daisy Villalba is a Social Worker, and I am a Nurse. Both of us know and are aware, as are the associations, of how bad our society is going through at the moment.
For this reason, when you go to a meeting with an association such as ADISLAN (Association of People with Disabilities of Lanzarote), a benchmark in the Canary Islands and an example in the care of people with reduced mobility on our island, and they tell you that the intention of the Cabildo Insular of Lanzarote is to privatize the service knowing the negative impact that it will have on the quality of care of users, you throw your hands to your head. As Deputy Pedro Quevedo said when visiting the facilities and meeting with the management: "this work is not done by any company from outside, I assure you."
On another occasion you meet with the FLORA ACOGE Canarian Foundation, which feeds more than 50 people daily with an exemplary social inclusion program, but instead their workers have gone more than seven payrolls without pay because public funds do not arrive. They are in such a situation that they could soon close their doors without any political leader doing anything to prevent it. From my humble position as a politician without public responsibility I have tried to ensure that the Vice-Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands, responsibility of Román Rodríguez, expedite some emergency item to help Flora Acoge. All help is little at the moment.
The pandemic and confinement have done a lot of damage to Canarian society and, especially, to young adolescents. Families who saw their income reduced due to ERTES or even who were left without any income when they lost their jobs. Society in general has suffered confinement and it is now when we are seeing the first consequences on mental health. As a nurse in the Emergency Service of the Dr. José Molina Orosa Hospital in Lanzarote, I have witnessed the increase in the incidence of new patients with psychiatric and depressive outbreaks who need or require psychological help, some of them derived from a problem of social, family, work or economic origin.
With all this, is the Cabildo Insular of Lanzarote aware of the socio-health scenario that we may find in two years? Honestly, and seen what has been seen today, I don't think so. I find it hard to imagine what the insular political leaders of both social welfare and health are managing, but I hope they have planned a series of actions and programs to avoid what would be the biggest socio-health crisis suffered in Lanzarote in decades.
Why is it not allowed in some contracting specifications that an association such as ADISLAN or AFA (Association of Relatives of Alzheimer's and other Dementias) can submit to a contest where it has been more than demonstrated that they are valid for it?; why are economic factors weighed more than experience and work with the most needy people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa?; why is support for third sector associations not reinforced by facilitating the procedures for subsidies so that they can continue working and providing the service they have been providing for decades?; why do municipalities not strengthen their social areas by giving importance to mental health with an increase in the number of psychologists who implement outreach and support programs for those who need it?; And, finally, will the public leaders of our island have social(ist) awareness?
Yone Caraballo Medina.
Insular Secretary of Welfare of Nueva Canarias.
