SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 11th April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Today, Thursday, the Tenerife Cabildo marked International Parkinson’s Day with the presentation of a manifesto by the Tenerife Parkinson’s Association. In attendance were the president of the island’s Council, Rosa Dávila, the Minister of Social Action, Águeda Fumero, members of the council, as well as Gladys Arteaga and Nayra González, president and director of Parkinson Tenerife, respectively.
Rosa Dávila praised the “exceptional work carried out by the association, particularly in the context of diseases like Parkinson’s, where the role of families and caregivers is crucial. The Tenerife Parkinson’s Association plays an essential role by offering support to assist in a challenging process where multiple roles exist, involving both the patient and their family members, who are typically women. Therefore, we require not only resources from public authorities but also empathy.”
Águeda Fumero emphasised the significant role of the association, stating that “they reach places where public bodies may not. Through this day, we also honour, in a way, the challenges they face daily, aiming to enhance the quality of life for those with Parkinson’s and their families. I express gratitude to associations like Parkinson’s Tenerife, for their years of dedicated service; for the admirable social work they perform.”
Gladys Arteaga, president of Parkinson Tenerife, reiterated on this Global Day that Parkinson Tenerife’s “dedication will always be towards those affected.” “When this illness impacts a family, the entire household is affected. This is why we established Parkinson’s Tenerife in 2001, to support those compelled by Parkinson’s to engage in ongoing efforts of acceptance and adjustment.”
Furthermore, Nayra González, director of Parkinson Tenerife, highlighted that this year, once again, Parkinson Tenerife features two key figures in the national campaign: Teresa Cruz, a Parkinson Tenerife user, and Sandra Larsson, the organisation’s psychologist. “The brain has endowed us with various abilities, but none as potent as our capacity to connect with others. In a world progressively dominated by technology, we must remember that genuine value resides in our ability to comprehend, empathise, and engage with other individuals,” stated the director.
The manifesto, delivered by José Manuel Mendoza, a Parkinson Tenerife user, advocates for the necessity of public policies to ensure high-quality social and healthcare for all individuals living with this condition, stressing the importance of genuinely supporting the associative movement by providing it with the required resources to reach all those in need.
According to data from Parkinson Tenerife, in 2023, they attended to 171 individuals, comprising 93 men and 78 women. Moreover, they assisted 120 families, conducted over 5,200 individual therapeutic interventions, and more than 1,000 group interventions.
