Today, Queen Letizia began her day with a video conference with four women representatives of the FSG – The Fundación Secretariado Gitano. Coinciding with the International Day of the People Gitano, held since 1971, Queen talked to the representatives about the situation of Roma women in a community today It is among the most vulnerable groups in the face of the health crisis caused by the coronavirus.
86% of the Roma population is below the poverty line (with equivalent incomes of less than € 620 per month) and 46% of Roma households live in extreme poverty. A great majority of this community conceives health as the absence of disease, and disease as a disabling situation linked to death. The concern for health begins when symptoms appear, so the concept of prevention is practically non-existent.
Faced with this situation, the participants informed the Queen about the problems that gypsy women are experiencing, affected in a triple facet for being women in a patriarchal society, for belonging to an ethnic minority that receives the worst social value and for belonging to a culture whose gender values are associated in many cases with the role of mothers and wives.
Next Felipe and Letizia attended a video conference with officials of the World Health Organization for the latest actions being undertaken to deal with the pandemic. Participating from the WHO headquarters in Geneva were María Neira, Director General of Public Health and Environment, Mikel Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Program and María Van Kerkhove, Technical Manager of COVID 19.
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia were informed that the WHO is currently finalizing phase II of the Strategic Response and Preparedness Plan (SPRP). The SPRP focuses mainly on the crisis in China and the initial impact of the virus in the Asian region, and mainly seeks to stop the spread of the virus.
On the other hand, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the Global Humanitarian Response Plan, for which $ 2,000 million have been allocated. In this plan, the WHO is in charge of supporting virus detection actions, carrying out clinical treatment for people most at risk, expanding and disseminating what is known about the virus, and guaranteeing the continuity of essential health services and drug chains. supply in that area.
Lastly, the experts told the Royal Couple that the pandemic underscores the need to strengthen global health governance and improve warning and prevention systems and that the WHO in the post-COVID-19 scenario will be called to play a key role. to coordinate the global health system.
Then the royal couple talked to Alfredo Martínez Larrea, managing director of the Hospital Complex of Navarra. The hospital comprises 6 centres with a total capacity of 1,158 beds. Includes places in hotels for hospitalization at home and quarantine, for minor cases without the possibility of doing it in their own homes. There are 120 ICU places available and with the possibility of expanding up to 30% depending on the impact of the epidemic.
The couple ended their day with a call to Eduardo Serra, president of DigitalES and Pedro Mier, president of AMETIC, which together comprise 100% of the technology companies in the country. During the call, the importance of telecommunications has been highlighted, especially during the current situation.
For the day, Queen Letizia wore Hugo Boss Jalorra Blazer in Glen Check Prince of Wales Prin. She paired it with the black trousers and a light brown top. Queen wore small gold hoop earrings and her Karen Hallam ring.
