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Areas Social action Social Welfare

Disability assessments now possible on Formentera

Foto valoracio grau discapacitat premsaYesterday, the Govern Balear staff specialists in charge of assessing degrees of discapacity visited the Formentera day centre. Vicent Verdera, an 84 year old Formentera-native, was the first patient the workers met with. According to Mr Verdera’s daughter, Pepita, though almost two years have gone by since doctors amputated her father’s leg, architectural barriers have meant Mr Verdera has been unable to make the trip to Eivissa to have his disability assessed. The Verderas were not alone. Two other patients at the day centre also benefitted from the visit by the employees of the Govern. Other specialists – a doctor, a psychologist and a social worker – are also available to come to Formentera upon request, thus sparing residents trips to Eivissa, explained Vanessa Parellada, head of Formentera’s office of social welfare.

Until now, Formentera residents who needed the degree of their disability assessed were required to schedule an appointment and travel to Eivissa, «with all the inconveniences that came along with it», added Councillor Parellada. «We proposed a possible solution to the regional minister of social services – Fina Santiago – and she accepted», said Parellada, pointing out that the Govern was itself eager to ensure social services were within the reach of Formentera residents.

The Council pays for the specialists’ travel costs to the Formentera day centre, where they have access to a work space. Interested individuals, Parellada concluded by saying, can contact the social services office of Formentera – or Eivissa – for more information or to request a local visit by one of the available specialists.

Fifteen students graduate from integration course

Foto curs integracio novembre 2015On Thursday, 26 November, a group of fifteen students and one professor held the final session of a course on social and cultural integration. The short course was organised by the immigration office of the CiF department of social welfare and held in Formentera's adult learning centre, l'Escola d'Adults. Department head Vanessa Parellada was on hand to personally hand out certificates attesting students had successfully completed the integration course, and, in some cases, a parallel language course as well. Both attestations are required to complete the application for a residency permit.

This particular course has been offered twice a year – in March and November – since 2013. This year's group comprised a broad range of nationalities: Argentinians, Colombians, Pakistanis and Moroccans. In class, the students learned overviews of the values embodied in the Spanish constitution, human rights and civil liberties, the Balearic statute of autonomy, the European Union and gender equality.

In November, the group met over 20 hours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The classes, explained Councillor Parellada, are conceived for recent arrivals to Formentera who are interested in fully integrating into civil society here.

Formentera takes another step forward on gender-based violence

Presentacio dia contra violencia de genere premsaVanessa Parellada, head of the department of social welfare and Azuzena Carrasco, staff specialist, met with Espai Dones president Vanessa Díaz to unveil the activities programme to back Formentera’s celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, tomorrow, 25 November. Councillor Parellada pointed to funding and logistical help the administration provides Espai Dones «to ensure such events take place». «However», she continued, «we must go even further in the fight against gender-based violence». She indicated the desire of CiF officials to «tackle the issue using education».

The Espai Dones president expressed her thanks for the Formentera Council’s support but bemoaned the fact «gender-based violence remains a pressing issue». Tomorrow at six in the evening an informational stand will be set up at la Constitució square. Then, at 7:30, a text in which Espai Dones speaks out against gender-based violence will be read before crowds on the square. Finally, at eight o’ clock, an exhibit on Simone de Beauvoir (Feminista i escriptora) will open at the municipal gallery. Ms Díaz asked for all to come out in red shoes.

The activities programme continues through 12 December, when organisers plan to bring together women of the island for a supper for sisterhood. A festival of film shorts is scheduled for 27 November and an assertiveness workshop is planned for the first of December. This last year 18 women denounced cases of abuse to the social services office of the Formentera Council.

IB-DONA wants to get your say on equality law

RP ib-dona premsaEarlier today in the plenary hall of the Formentera Council, before a crowd comprising representatives from different local associations, councillor of social welfare Vanessa Parellada joined Rosa Cursach, director of the Balearic institute for women (IB-DONA), in a press conference concerning a draft law on equality known in Catalan as la Llei d'Igualtat.  

The councillor expressed her gratitude to Ms Cursach for «coming in person not only to explain the legislative change, but also ask for residents' help in this process». Cursach appealed to the people of Formentera «to take an active role in the drafting of the law». She added: «With acts like this one today, we hope to create a space where that can occur».

From 4:15 to 5:30 this afternoon in the hall of ceremonies (la sala d'Actes) of the department of culture, the two officials will once again present the draft law. The presentation is intended for the benefit of students of an office of social welfare course on integration and anyone else who was unable to come in the morning.

Formentera requests space for companions at new Eivissa clinic

Reunio amb consellera Salut premsaFormentera Council president Jaume Ferrer has received a visit from Patricia Gómez, the regional secretary of health, at the CiF's head office in Sant Francesc. Also present at the meeting were CiF councillor of social welfare Vanessa Parellada; Formentera's parliamentarian Sílvia Tur; chief of health services in Eivissa and Formentera Josep Balanzat; and vice director of primary care at Ib-Salut Rosa Duro.

The CiF president levied Ms Gómez for «a dedicated space for Formentera residents at the future health centre and former Can Misses hospital». The idea is to create a place where family members can sleep, shower or change while loved ones are receiving care. «Hospital stays can be longer than anticipated», commented the president. Ferrer took advantage of the opportunity to update his counterpart on the imminent implementation of a GPS-based system for rapidly locating individuals in remote swaths of Formentera who require medical attention.

Ferrer expressed his appreciation for what was Gómez's first official visit to Formentera as health secretary for the Govern. Gómez spoke to the CiF representatives about the improvements planned for the hospital here on Formentera: summer reinforcements for the emergency room and assistance in the form of visiting experts in specialties like neurology, urology and mental health.

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