More than 2,500 indigenous authorities participated in the IV meeting of ancestral and traditional authorities of the Wayúu peoplecarried out in the municipality of Maicao, whose main axis revolved around health, in a dialogue with the National Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
At the meeting, which took place in the community of La Paz, the authorities indigenous people socialized their concerns about health reform and the comprehensive and intercultural health efforts they have been developing.
Palabreros and ancestral and traditional authorities spoke with officials of the National Government
They heard them the Minister of Health, Guillermo Jaramillo; the director of the National Institute of Health, Giovanny Rubiano García; the Superintendent of Health, Luis Carlos Leal; Adress, and Senator Martha Peralta, president of the Senate’s VII Commission.
We are going to present a new health reform, and we will do it as we are doing here, reaching consensus and agreement with the people, without the risk of the IPS disappearing.
Delegates of the consultation table, health commissioners, palabreros and ancestral and traditional authorities spoke with officials of the National Government and presented the IV mandate of the Wayuu people, which contains the requirements for their own health system.
The palabrero (Pütchipü’ü) Orangel Gouriyu again delivered the mandate to the National Government, indicating that they have been delivering it for more than a year, even to President Gustavo Petro himself, so They asked for a lot of respect for the wordsince they are complying under the word within the Wayú Regulatory System and are not taking the de facto paths.
Children die from malnutrition in La Guajira.
Photo:Wayú Nation
In that sense, Senator Martha Peralta made a X-ray of the situation experienced by indigenous communities in La Guajira to access health care, “We are going to present a new health reform, and we will do it as we are doing here, reaching consensus and agreement with the people, without the risk of the IPS disappearing.”
Health Ministry officials clarified that it is completely false that there is any intention to do away with IPS and mentioned their commitment to achieve an increase in the UPC up to 12%.
For his part, Minister Jaramillo specified that the Indigenous Intercultural Health System (SISPI) must be a public system, “we will not wait for a Health Reform, but throughout the month of July and under the leadership of Vice Minister Jaime Urrego we will work together with the community to present a proposal to President Gustavo Petro with the objective that SISPI is conceived as a manager of public life.”
Agreements reached
Death of children in La Guajira due to malnutrition.
Photo:Courtesy of the Shipia Wayú Association
Several points of collaboration were agreed upon with the Ministry of Health, with the aim of strengthening the indigenous health system and improving the living conditions of the Wayúu people.
Among the agreements reached, it stands out the need to establish the SISPI as a public health system organized by indigenous peoples and indigenous territories, clearly defining the institutions and powers that comprise it.
In addition, it was agreed that the Wayúu people’s own health institutions, made up of indigenous authorities, will be the only ones to operate the SISPI in their ancestral territory, prioritizing care for the Wayúu people.
Thread Banks seeks to provide quality food to children from different sectors of La Guajira through the work of their mothers. The idea is to buy at a fair price the Wayúu backpacks made by the women belonging to these communities.
Photo:Courtesy Abaco
The commitment to strengthening Anas Wayuu, the indigenous health institutions of the Wayú people, was reaffirmed. Likewise, compliance with Laws 691 of 2001 and 1751 of 2015 was insisted on, recognizing the unique organizational forms of the Wayuu People.
The Wayuu authorities requested the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, to stop the attacks on their institutions. and collaborators, and recognize efforts in solving health problems. The need for a Life Plan for the Wayuu People was also raised, with sufficient resources to rebuild the economy and promote sustainable activities, including the participation of multilateral organizations with experience in this area.
In addition, they requested the creation of a new mechanism for consultation and agreement with the Wayú people, made up only of their ancestral and traditional authorities, in accordance with ILO Convention 169.
The importance of the participation of the Wayú people in the consultation prior to the constitution of the SISPI and the articulation of actions to address the social determinants that affect their community was highlighted, with emphasis on resolving famine, “in such a way that not only “Focus on averting the effects that hunger causes on the health and lives of our people,” the authorities indicated.
Indigenous authorities continue to promote contempt for the ruling that protected the fundamental rights of Wayúu children.
Photo:Courtesy of the Shipia Wayú Association
To represent the Wayuu People before the National Government, They appointed the Alaula and ancestral authorities Edicto Barroso Sijona, Juan Cambar Pushaina, Rosalinda Aguilar Uliana, Orangel Gouriyu, Marcos Jayaliyu, Angel Navas Jayaliyu and Luis Fernando Hernández Pushaina.
Also present were The governor of La Guajira Jairo Aguilar, and the mayors of Maicao and Albania, Miguel Felipe Aragón and Nera Robles Boniventon and the director of Indigenous Affairs, ROM and Minorities, Taita Germán Carlo. The ancestral and traditional authorities reiterated their commitment to work together for the health of the Wayuu people.
Eliana Mejía Ospino
Special for Time
Riohacha
