A group of activists from the #NoSomosDeSegunda citizen movement, advocating for the establishment of a palliative care unit in the south of Tenerife and enhancements in the treatment of patients with terminal illnesses, brought their cause to a national stage in Madrid over the weekend. The event was hosted by the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (Secpal).
Vanesa Díaz, a resident of Cabo Blanco and the founder of the citizen platform, passionately described the current situation in Tenerife and the wider Archipelago. She shared her personal story that resonated with the audience, recounting the difficulties her family faced when her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She highlighted the lack of comprehensive services in the Canary Islands, underscoring their treatment as second-class citizens.
200 Participants Attended
The II Conference on Education in Palliative Care, hosted at Caixafórum, brought together patient advocates, healthcare professionals specialising in terminal care, students from various disciplines related to the field, and legal experts. A total of 200 attendees echoed the call for improved palliative care services nationwide.
The consensus at the forum was that the majority of individuals receiving palliative care, and their families, prefer to have pain-free home care until the end. The commitment was made to enhance services not only in the southern region but across the entire island and the Canary Islands.
Increasing Life Expectancy
The speakers emphasised the growing need for palliative care due to longer life expectancies and the prevalence of chronic diseases where curative treatments are no longer viable. There was a special focus on paediatric palliative care, striving to provide it in the homes of the young patients whenever feasible.
The activists from #NoSomosDeSegunda networked at the Madrid forum, aiming to develop a model that can be implemented in the Canary Islands and across Spain. They are pushing for equitable standards to be realised.
