Manifestantes sostienen carteles durante una protesta tras la muerte de asesinado Trayvon Martin en Sanford, Florida.Julie Fletcher (AP)
El 12 de febrero de 2012, Trayvon Martin, un joven de 17 años, caminaba con prisa bajo la lluvia por un suburbio de Orlando, Florida. Cubría su cabeza con la capucha de una sudadera y cargaba una bolsa con golosinas y una lata de té helado. A George Zimmerman, un vigilante vecinal de 28 años, le pareció sospechoso. Llamó al 911 para alertar sobre la presencia del joven, a quien empezó a perseguir, a pesar de que el equipo de emergencia le dijo que no lo hiciera. Hubo un altercado entre los dos hombres. El joven, que iba desarmado, murió producto de una bala en su pecho. Era negro. El vigilante, hispano, quedó absuelto de todos los cargos.
La muerte de Martin encendió la mecha del movimiento Black Lives Matter (traducido del inglés como “Las vidas negras importan”), una voz fundamental contra la brutalidad policial hacia la población negra en Estados Unidos. Una década después del suceso, los activistas continúan multiplicándose a medida que otros jóvenes con capucha mueren a tiros por parecer sospechosos, como Eric Garner, Tamir Rice o Freddie Gray.
Barack Obama era presidente cuando la comunidad negra salió a las calles a reclamar justicia. “Una de las cosas más importantes que surgieron de esta tragedia [la muerte de Martin] fue la activación de toda una nueva generación de líderes de derechos civiles”, afirmó Obama a The New York Times. Dos días después de la muerte de Martin, Obama dijo en los jardines de la Casa Blanca: “Si tuviera un hijo, se parecería a Trayvon”. Cuando brotaban las semillas del movimiento racial en las masivas protestas tras la absolución de Zimmerman, el mandatario escribió que era consciente de que el caso había “levantado pasiones, pero un jurado ha hablado”.
Desde la muerte de George Floyd en mayo de 2020 ha habido juicios sobre homicidios a negros desarmados con condenas duras, pero los activistas de los derechos civiles afirman que el problema es sistemático y que el sistema judicial es racista. 10 años atrás, el asesino de Trayvon Martin quedó libre porque el jurado le creyó cuando dijo que había actuado en defensa propia. La semana pasada, Kim Potter, una expolicía de Minnesota que mató a tiros a Daunte Wright, un afroamericano de 20 años que iba desarmado, recibió dos años de cárcel. La jueza le creyó cuando este afirmó que había sacado su arma de fuego por error, cuando en realidad quería utilizar su pistola táser. La madre del joven fallecido dijo que Potter había asesinado a su hijo y que el sistema de justicia lo había matado de nuevo.
Ben Crump, uno de los abogados de derechos civiles más destacados de Estados Unidos, representó a la familia de Martin y también a la de Floyd. “Creo que cuando miras la condena del asesino de George Floyd, la condena del asesino de Daunte Wright en Minnesota, la mafia del linchamiento de Ahmaud Arbery, todo se remonta a Trayvon Martin y eleva el nivel de conciencia de que las vidas negras importan”, reflexionaba esta semana en una entrevista al Orlando Sentinel. “Creo que, sin Trayvon, no veríamos nada del progreso que hemos logrado”.
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The Platform of Patient Organizations (POP) emphasizes the need to strengthen socio-health care and redefine the health model to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of chronic patients
The loneliness of chronic patients. EFE/Luca Zennaro
The covid-19 pandemic has shaken all levels of society. However, chronic patients have especially suffered the impact of the health crisis due to the delay in their diagnoses and treatments.
For this reason, the Platform of Patient Organizations (POP) calls for the inclusion in the political-social agenda of the needs of chronic patients who have been affected by the pandemic, under the “Deferred Lives” initiative.
Within this campaign, the organization has prepared a report, called “Study of the impact of Covid-19 on people with chronic illness”, to find out the real situation of chronically ill people.
The study has been carried out by a team coordinated by Maria Gálvez, director of the POP until this week, in which numerous professionals from various health entities have collaborated.
Its main objective is to highlight the postponement of the lives of thousands of chronic patients and specify proposals for improving health care.
The report addresses healthcare and socio-health care, the impact on working life and mental health in Spain.
The director of the Patient Organization Platform, María Gálvez/Photo provided by the POP patient platform
Deterioration of health care
According to the results, 69% of the patients suffered the cancellation of their scheduled consultations and 41.4% the suspension or postponement of their rehabilitation, with the consequent consequences on their health status.
30.7% of the patients presented different problems in obtaining medication during the alarm state. And only 47.5% have been able to continue treatment normally in outpatient and hospital centers.
Regarding care follow-up, most of it was carried out by telephone, email or telecare and only in 1.8% of cases did the health professional go to the patient’s home.
Almost 70% of unemployed women did not receive benefits
The employment and economic situation of chronic patients was affected, especially that of women. 32% of the sample were active, working full-time, part-time or self-employed.
One in seven patients (14.4%) were unemployed receiving a benefit. However, 69.9% of unemployed women did not receive an economic benefit, while 30.4% of men were in the same situation.
Impact on the mental health of chronic patients
The study highlights that general concern about the health of patients themselves has increased. Some of the most common symptoms are headaches, irritability, difficulty relaxing, and sadness.
The state of alarm, home confinement and uncertainty are some of the factors that have increased negative emotional feelings in those surveyed.
Redefinition of the health model
East report concludes that both health care and treatment of diseases of chronic patients have been affected.
For this reason, the POP points out that “this turning point must be taken advantage of to modify the attention of public health and social services”.
In the report, the experts propose developing more flexible and multidisciplinary structures, which adapt to the needs of the person beyond what is purely health.
To do this, the association launches ten proposals for improvement:
Prioritize chronic patients based on risk factors
Promote work and communication between associations, administrations and health agents
Ensure pharmacotherapeutic follow-up
Strengthen primary care and create neighborhood support networks
Teleconsultation as a model of permanent care
Promote telecommuting
take care of mental health
Create caregiver support programs
Protect health workers and patients
Launch awareness campaigns on how to protect our health
The current dry season has caused the Manzanares, Piedras and Gaira rivers, which supply the drinking water treatment plants of Santa Marta, to register a significant decrease in levels close to 50 percent. This fact generates a low water supply for the provision of the aqueduct service.
Although the provision of the service to users has not yet been totally affected, the public service company, Essmar, has already activated a care protocol to avoid a critical Depletion, like the one that has been held in previous years in the city.
(See: Puppy spent three days waiting outside the hospital for his sick owner)
Essmar’s plan is to improve the response capacity of the aqueduct system and mitigate the impacts of drought on samarian homes.
Among the actions contemplated in the action protocol are the prioritization of the rational use of water campaign; availability of a fleet of tanker vehicles during 24 hours; articulated visits with the communities and Corpamag in the catchment area of the Gaira river and control against illegal connections.
Likewise, seven drinking water loading points will be set up for tank trucks, in order to increase – if required – the volume supplied to users and communities.
(See: Woman stabbed her husband to death in the heart in Santa Marta)
In the same way, the execution of cleaning brigades in the intakes was planned and supply schedules will be implemented for the communities dependent on water from the adduction lines to increase the volume of input to the Mamatoco plant.
The installations of pumps in catchments of the rivers were also announced. Apple orchards and Stones.
Faced with these actions, special agent Yahaira Díaz Quesada assured that “the strength and articulation of the entities and the community allows us to find concrete actions to arrive in an effective and forceful way to mitigate the situations that arise in the face of the drought season ”.
ROGER URIEL Special for WEATHER SANTA MARTA
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The Sepsis Code has been created to put an end to the mortality caused by severe sepsis and septic shock, a public health problem that the Hospital de La Princesa in Madrid has managed to reduce.
Health professionals from the La Princesa Hospital in Madrid. Photo by Carlos Gonzalez.
Sepsis is an unnatural response of the body to a bacterial infection that can cause the failure of one or more vital organs, a public health problem for which the Sepsis Code protocol has been created, which has already reduced mortality from 24% to 10% at the La Princesa Hospital in Madrid.
This pathology has a great impact on hospitals, it decreases the quality of life of the patient and their physical, mental and social deterioration, in addition to requiring a long stay in the hospital.
Affects 50,000 people in Spain each yearof which, according to 2018 data, 17,000 people die.
However, mortality can be reduced. Since 2015, the Hospital Universitario de La Princesa in Madrid has achieved this thanks to the Sepsis Code.
How has this been possible?
The answer lies in the multidisciplinary work of the Sepsis Code. we tell you in our YouTube channel.
“When sepsis is diagnosed and detected quickly, and the hospitals respond appropriately, the results are much better. This is achieved with the Sepsis Code»
explains Fernando Ramasco, head of the La Princesa Hospital Resuscitation Unit.
Fernando Ramasco, head of the La Princesa Hospital Resuscitation Unit
What is the Sepsis Code?
It is a set of organizational, training and care improvement measures “aimed at providing the best care possible for patients who develop symptoms of sepsis”.
“The pre-activation part would almost be the most important. The early detection of sepsis in the patient is essential and now we detect it earlier, something important for the survival of the patient»
informs the deputy doctor of the emergency service, Andrés Von Wernitz.
In the emergency department, 80% of patients who arrive at the hospital with sepsis are detected. Once the diagnosis is made, the entire team knows what to do, “all the services and levels”, they get to work.
When sepsis is diagnosed in the patient, the next step is “analytics and microbiology samples”.
“We are lucky that we are the first hospital in Europe to implement a technology called Accelerate that allows us to know the causal agent in a few hours to apply a much more targeted antibiotic treatment, thus improving the prognosis”
indicates the doctor.
Andrés Von Wernitz, assistant doctor of the emergency service of Hospital La Princesa
This new tool makes it possible to identify the pathogens that cause it in just 90 minutes and, in addition, offers the antibiotic sensitivity study in less than 7 hours, 28 hours less than those necessary with the conventional method.
“The sepsis code has given us a common language that makes the different services interact better and this is good for the patient, who is ultimately the center of the project.”
says the specialist.
“We have improved what we were already doing. We didn’t play badly, but with a tuned instrument the music sounds much better”, says the expert, referring to the multidisciplinary work of the parties included in the Sepsis Code.
Nursing role in the Sepsis Code
David Jiménez, ICU nurse at La Princesa Hospital in Madrid
David Jimenez He is a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hospital La Princesa.
He tells us how his work is “unique” since his work is carried out “at the patient’s bedside”.
“We can detect warning signs and symptoms early before the patient can worsen and the sepsis ends up developing septic shock with the failure of different organs”
the nurse reports.
The work of this service also covers the part of the treatment, its administration being important in the first hours.
Benefits of the Sepsis Code
The results after the implementation of the Sepsis Code in 2014 at Hospital La Princesa show encouraging data: «In our hospital, in 5 years, Mortality has been reduced to almost 10%».
Ana Barrios, infectious disease service at Hospital La Princesa.
This is due to the great speed with which the antibiotic to be administered is defined, as well as “how to get it right from the beginning so that it is effective”.
“Many factors are taken into account, especially risk factors to be taken resistant bacteria. The entire population is important in this because taking antibiotics without a medical prescription can lead to an increased risk of resistant bacteria”
warns Ana Barrios, internist at the Infectious Diseases Service.
Martín Hernández, 46 days in the ICU
Martin is a diabetic patient who suffered from sepsis. One day he began to notice shortness of breath, heavy sweating, and an infection in his right leg.
Martín’s reaction was to take a taxi and go to his hospital, a decision that saved his life.
“I suffered septic shock that caused multi-organ failure in my leg, kidneys, lungs, and cross-pneumonia that forced me to stay in the ICU for 46 days”
Martin account.
The aftermath led him to rehabilitation both physically and emotionally because his mental health was affected after spending a long period in the hospital.
Martín Hernández, former Sepsis patient
«I had consequences: tremendous fatigue, loss of muscle mass and a strong weakness that you have to recover little by little»
Add.
This patient thanks the Sepsis Code and all its professionals for their professionalism and effort, because “they really saved my life”stands out.
In this way, the Sepsis Code demonstrates its effectiveness and allows the patient to be removed from danger as soon as possible, reducing mortality and cases of serious infections.
Its implementation will continue to spread and the figures will continue to give hope.
In 2020, 2.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer in the European Union, and 1.3 million lost their lives from this disease.
There are differences within the continent, such as survival rates after cancer treatment, which vary by 20% between countries, and those for colon cancer at five years, which range from 49 to 69.
All these data highlight the need for the EU to intensify its efforts against cancer through concrete policies.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious effect on cancer care: it has disrupted prevention and treatment, delayed diagnosis and affected access to medicines, explains the European Commission on its official website.
In the information note, it is recalled that the EU has been working for decades in the fight against cancer, but that its latest action plan was developed in the early 1990s, so it is considered that Europe should urgently renew its commitment to cancer prevention, treatment and care so that it adapts to the growing challenges linked to the disease and reflects advances in care.
Stop cancer: European plan
In the coming years, the Cancer Plan, which includes concrete measures in relation to tobacco, alcohol and food, it will focus on helping researchers in both small and large Member States to exchange findings and provide them with access to crucial health data on the possible causes of cancer and its promising treatments.
Through their actions and initiatives, medical staff and hospitals will be able to take advantage of a wealth of shared information, enabling patients across the EU to benefit from better care and treatment.
A wide range of EU policies will support the Cancer Plan, with the digitalisation, research and innovation as starting points for a new approach to cancer care in the EU.
Actions will range from employment, education, social policy and equality, through marketing, agriculture, energy, environment and climate, to transport, cohesion policy and taxation.
The Plan does not have an end date, but it will be subject to periodic reviews, the first at the end of 2024. This review will assess whether enough actions have been carried out to achieve the objectives or if additional measures are necessary.
Measures: alcohol, tobacco, food
Alcohol
According to the same source, Europe has the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world and alcohol-attributable cancer is a serious health problem.
Despite this, few people are aware that alcohol is a risk factor for cancer. It is necessary to strengthen alcohol control policies to prevent cancer cases and deaths attributable to its consumption.
Therefore, the Commission will support Member States in implementing a wide range of policies, such as reducing the affordability and availability of alcohol, limiting its advertising and promotion, as well as raising awareness of the link between consumption of alcohol and the development of cancer.
Also, the Commission will review EU legislation on taxes on alcohol. Too will review the tax legislation on the cross-border purchase of alcoholic products. A public consultation on this matter is currently underway.
Tobacco
The consumption of cigarettes and other forms of tobacco is responsible for 15 to 20% of all cancer cases in Europe, which makes it the main avoidable risk factor.
In addition to addressing traditional tobacco products, action on the next generation of tobacco and related products will continue to be a priority as new products such as heated tobacco, among others, continue to enter the market.
It is necessary to protect young people from acquiring lasting habits that are harmful to health.
The Plan includes measures to help create a “Tobacco-Free Generation” adopting a comprehensive approach to it, which will include:
A revision of the Tobacco Products Directive to tighten product regulation;
A revision of the Directive on tobacco taxation, in order to review the EU’s minimum tax rates on tobacco products and harmonize the taxation of new products;
A revision of the EU tax legislation on the cross-border purchase of tobacco products: a public consultation on this matter is currently underway;
The treatment of advertising, promotion and tobacco sponsorship on social media and online services; and support to member states in implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Commission will propose an update of the Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments and will recommend that its scope be extended to emerging products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Likewise, a new impetus will be given to Member States to improve the application of existing legislation in the framework of their general tobacco control strategies, including those related to sales to minors and campaigns to quit smoking.
TOfeeding
Diet can influence the risk of cancer many years before its diagnosis, already during childhood.
A diet composed of a wide intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains instead of refined ones and a low consumption of red meat and processed meat, sugary drinks and salt will reduce the risk not only of cancer, but also of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mortality in general.
The Commission will assess the EU Action Plan against Childhood Obesity 2014-2020 and propose follow-up actions.
Strong synergies will be established with the Farm to Fork Strategy and a revision of the school fruit, vegetable and milk distribution program will be proposed to make more healthy products available to children.
In addition, the Commission is carrying out a review of the policy on the promotion of agricultural products in order to improve their contribution to sustainable production and consumption and in line with the shift to a more plant-based diet, with less red and processed meat and fewer foods related to the risk of cancer and with more fruits and vegetables.
Infographic European plan against cancer
Cancer Knowledge Center, the first step
The Commission has recently opened the Cancer Knowledge Centre, the first emblematic measure carried out under the aforementioned plan.
The Center has been established as a new online platform to collect documentation and coordinate actions against the main cause of death among those under 65 in Europe.
It will take stock of the latest literature on cancer, provide health guidelines and quality assurance systems, and monitor and project trends in cancer incidence and mortality across the EU.
It also provides a forum where everyone in the fight against cancer can share best practices, collaborate and coordinate to make the most of our collective knowledge and evidence-based science.
Cancer in Spain: a vital emergency
The aforementioned European plan has served as an opening arch to the conference ‘Cancer in Spain: a vital emergency’, where more than thirty entities involved in its approach —scientific societies, patient associations and NGOs— have made a common front to define a ‘road map’ with which to address the existing inequities and challenges around a pathology that causes more than 113,000 deaths and 280,000 new diagnosesannual in Spain.
The Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, participated in the meeting corroborating the Government’s support for the ‘Cancer NOW’ project, promoted by the Foundation for Excellence and Quality in Oncology (ECO).
In his speech, Darias pointed out how “first order priority” improve detection and treatment through commitments such as the National Cancer Strategy, the Inveat Plan —which will allocate 795 million euros to High Technology Units— or Precision Oncology.
More than twenty panelists have participated in this meeting through different blocks that have analyzed axes such as the access to innovation, incorporation and management of more biomarkers in clinical practice, and heto equity in oncology care
Spain: equity in cancer care
On this point, the existing inequities between hospitals in the different Autonomous Communities have been highlighted.
In the words of doctor Carlos Camps, director of Scientific Programs of the ECO Foundation, The first transformation must be faced from the base: “We have a model health system organization, but a model for the 1980s”.
For this reason, a profound reform of the procedures is advocated within which the incorporation of new diagnostic technologies in a homogeneous manner throughout the territory is addressed, as well as maximizing the use of human and economic resources that have repercussions on improvements in care, without distinctions, for all cancer patients.
at the table named ‘Biomarkers in Oncology’, the vice president of the ECO Foundation, the Doctor Jesus Garcia-Foncillas, has focused on the “paradigm change” that the arrival of biomarkers has meant to “carry out a more directed approach that allows oncology to be valued and to search for the most effective treatments based on the molecular characteristics of the disease”.
The speakers at this table agreed on the same idea: it is urgent to detect and incorporate new biomarkers into the portfolio of SNS services in an effective way. In Oncology, betting on precision medicine is betting on quality medicine, the panelists agreed.
Subsequently, at the last table dedicated to access to innovation The differences in access to new oncological treatments of Spanish patients with respect to European citizens, as well as between the various Autonomous Communities of the country, have been addressed.
Various studies mentioned reveal that only 50% of the drugs approved at European level by the EMA are approved in Spain.
Or that, after its approval by the EMA, the average access time in Spain exceeds 400 days compared to about 120 days in countries like Germany.
