Until a few months ago, we received a quality health service in the village. We were attended by the Basque pediatrician who was in the health center. Because some of us asked for it from the very beginning; others, because it touched us that way without asking for it.
But for one day, and without knowing anything about it, we were left without a vasco-talking pediatrician. Asked about the reception, they did not know if something specific was going to be definitive.
So we asked Osasunbidea what the reason was.
"We call on the Government of Navarra to take the necessary measures as soon as possible to provide a quality health service - Basque pediatrician -"
The answer was as follows: “We inform you of the D.O. That Dr. is the one who owns the place in the afternoon shift, as he has acquired it through transfer. In fact, E.G. The doctor was in office as an intern. In Ansoáin there are no pediatricians with an Euskera profile and know that we understand your request. You can ask them to take care of an Basque pediatrician from the base area next to Ansoáin. I, on the other hand, encourage you to continue in our health center, it is what belongs to you”.
Knowing the reason and seeing that the solution we were offered did not satisfy us – that of going to the health center of another town/neighborhood, but recommending to continue in the health center that corresponds to us with an erdaldun pediatrician – we decided to file a complaint in Osasunbidea through the Linguistic Rights Observatory.
Response from the Centre: “For pediatricians of the Ansoáin Health Center this requirement is not required (essential knowledge of the Basque Country), so it is up to the Government of Navarra or the Parliament to make the necessary legal modifications to be able to fill this position, to require the knowledge of the Basque Country in a compulsory way”.
Ararteko has also suggested to the Department of Health that: “Take the necessary measures to ensure that health care in Basque can be provided at the health centre of Ansoáin when citizens use this language.”
We therefore call on the Government of Navarra to take the necessary measures as soon as possible to provide a quality health service, to offer a Basque pediatrician. We want to recover what has been taken away from us and we are not going to stop until we get there.
Euskaldun pediatrician in Ansoin!
*Nestor Esteban, Ainhoa Etxeberria and Jon Mendinueta (representing the affected families of Ansoin)