La Oliva hosts the 6th Plenary of the Canary Islands Health-Promoting Islands
The President of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Lola García, participated today in the VI Plenary of the Canary Islands and Municipalities Health Promotion Strategy (ECIMPS), the political representation body of this initiative. The plenary brings together the Federation of Municipalities (FECAM), the Canary Islands Federation of Islands (FECAI), the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Government, as well as representatives of municipalities and island councils that have joined the strategy. The Fuerteventura Island Council is a member of the strategy thanks to the work of the Department of Social Action, headed by Víctor Alonso.
Opening Remarks
The opening speeches were delivered by:
- Lola García, President of the Fuerteventura Island Council
- Óscar Hernández, First Vice‑President of FECAM
- José Fernando Díaz‑Flores, Director General of Public Health of the Canary Health Service
- Isaí Blanco, Mayor of La Oliva, also a municipality adhering to the health‑promotion strategy
Lola García welcomed all participants, thanking them for holding the ECIMPS plenary on the island as part of a regional gathering aimed at boosting local public policies with a health focus, fostering alliances, generating learning, and highlighting the work carried out across the islands.
“This edition is centered on something as essential as health, understood broadly—from childhood and adolescence to families, the elderly, and the general population,” she said.
She added that the island council joined the strategy last year, convinced that health does not depend solely on the health system but also on how public policies are designed and coordinated.
“This strategy reflects a fundamental truth: health promotion is a shared responsibility, and local administrations have a key role,” García emphasized.
Expanding Participation
Currently, the strategy in Fuerteventura includes the Island Council and the La Oliva City Council.
“Our goal is to bring more municipalities on board because we firmly believe in joint work and the importance of integrating all perspectives to improve people’s quality of life,” the island president concluded.
Óscar Hernández, vice‑president of FECAM, thanked La Oliva for its collaboration in organizing the event alongside the FECAM team and the participation of the General Directorate and island councils. He highlighted the significant increase in memberships, noting that 68 municipalities now belong to the Canary strategy.
José Fernando Díaz‑Flores, Director General of Public Health, stated:
“We are the autonomous community most involved in this strategy, striving to make local entities health promoters because they play a predominant role in this field, and we are on the right track.”
Mayor Isaí Blanco welcomed attendees to La Oliva:
“It is an honor for us to host this meeting. I hope we rise to the occasion over these days and that the sessions prove beneficial.”
Outcomes and Future Priorities
During the VI Plenary, participants reviewed actions taken since the previous meeting and set priorities for the future. The event concluded with a conference by César González de León, a teacher, psychologist, and pedagogue, who spoke on “governing with a focus on childhood and adolescence.”
The plenary is part of the VII Regional Meeting of Islands and Municipalities Health Promoters, with activities running until 5 February in La Oliva. The meeting is organized by the General Directorate of Public Health, together with FECAM and FECAI, and enjoys the collaboration of the Fuerteventura Island Council and the La Oliva City Council.