Formentera's Mixed Commission on HIV/AIDS held its inaugural session to discuss the Consell de Formentera's signing of the Paris Declaration on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The commission was chaired by Ana Juan, President of the Consell, and in attendance were Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare; department specialists and representatives of Formentera Hospital and of ALAS Salud y Sexualidades, a civil society group working to prevent HIV and AIDS.

Councillor Ramírez pointed out that "members of the Consell's December 2021 plenary unanimously endorsed Formentera's adhesion to the Paris Declaration, a clear statement of the island's firm stance on public health and social welfare". Ramírez described the goal as "promoting the policies and strategies within our reach to fight against HIV and achieve the objectives to end the epidemic by 2030".

Among those objectives is the achievement by 2030 of the 95-95-95-0 HIV treatment targets. These targets –that 95% of people living with HIV know their viral status, that 95% get appropriate treatment on an ongoing basis and that 95% of those receiving treatment keep their viral load low to stay healthy and reduce the risk of HIV transmission– would help put an end to the global AIDS epidemic by 2030 with zero stigma and discrimination.

Short-term roadmap

Being developed in tandem is the Fast-Track Formentera Plan (FTF Plan), which strives to be a living, open document encompassing actions to tackle HIV and AIDS in the years ahead. Global principles and local actions will be key to attaining these objectives, namely, by taking advantage of programmes and resources already in place on the island and taking steps locally to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV.

On 1 December 2014, World AIDS Day, mayors of 26 cities gathered in Paris to sign a pledge to end the AIDS epidemic in their municipalities. In this declaration, called the Paris Declaration, and led by Paris, mayors and governments of more than 50 world municipalities with high rates of HIV infection pledged to adopt a series of commitments to accelerate the AIDS response.

5 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today about 20 people took part in the first Warning Signs and Keys to Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm, a day-long conference hosted by the Consell de Formentera together with the Balearic Office for Children and Adolescents. Taking place in the Consell auditorium, the conference will feature discussion on the theoretical framework of the Suicide Observatory as well as highlight myths, risk factors, worry signs and preventive steps. Participants will also come away with practical tips on spotting suicidal ideation through questions and ways to intervene.

Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, opened the event and shared his hopes that participants would find it useful. Nicole Haber, head of the Suicide Observatory, and Maria Dolores Gabaldón, social worker at the Mental Health Office of the Balearic Islands, led the conference.

3 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

At 5.00pm on Thursday 5 May, Raül Genovés, who holds a PhD in Philosophy and is a specialist in emotional management, will conclude the 'Talks for families' lecture series with a talk entitled "Emotional education for families and teachers" in the auditorium of the Formentera Day Centre.

Organised by the Formentera Office of Social Welfare, the fourth 'Talks for Families' has included nine talks since it started last year on 21 October. To make it easier for parents to attend, the talks also include a babysitting service for children three and up.
 
28 April 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

On 3 May, the Formentera Offices of Social Welfare and Youth together with the Balearic Office for Children and Adolescents will host a conference on detection and first steps for the prevention of suicide and self-harm.

The event will take shape from 11.30am to 2.30pm and 4.00pm to 7.00pm in the Consell auditorium. Besides the theoretical rubric of the Suicide Observatory [Observatori del Suïcidi, OS], discussion in the morning will dispel myths and shed light on risk factors, motives for concern and preventive steps. In the afternoon participants will learn practical tools to spot suicidal ideation through questions and tips on how to intervene.

The conference will be given by OS chief Nicole Haber and Maria Dolores Gabaldón, social worker at the Mental Health Office of the Balearic Islands.

Interested parties can register here.

21 April 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera