An Unforgettable Record of Pandemia
Five years ago, the Terres de l’Ebre were immersed in one of the most challenges in its history: the arrival of Covid-19. With the epidemic already present in Catalonia, the community began to prepare for an unprecedented health crisis. The uncertainty of the moment was overwhelming, and the responsibility to manage public health weighed in each decision.
The preparation against the unexpected
The first days were a cluster of emotions: pain, concern and a deep respect for what was approaching. Images from other regions that already suffered the crisis were a constant reminder of the seriousness of the situation. The priority was clear: to save lives and protect both the population and health professionals. Thus, we had to transform our hospitals, moving from only 8 beds for critical patients to 32, into an unprecedented collective effort.
Meetings and strategies
Morning meetings with CatSalut and other territories became our daily bread. Although cases in the Terres de l’Ebre were limited during confinement, our daily lives were transformed into a constant preparation for residences and strengthening health care. I remember clearly on March 13, when the first cases were recorded in the region, a moment that marked the beginning of drastic decisions such as the suspension of non -urgent interventions.
The state of alarm and the consequences
With the declared alarm state, the world stopped. The image of empty roads and the anguish of the quarantine were new realities that everyone had to face. I remember a trip to Barcelona, where the absence of traffic made me feel the seriousness of the situation. On March 19, the first death in the Terres de l’Ebre was a hard blow that shook the community.
Mourning and solidarity
With more than 200 lives lost during the pandemic, each dead was a broken story. In the midst of pain, solidarity emerged as a light of hope. The applause from the balconies to the health professionals were a gesture that united us all in a time of shared vulnerability.
Resilience and learning
Living a pandemic as a Health Manager in the Terres de l’Ebre was a monumental challenge. Every day it was full of decisions that, over time, could have been different, but at first we only had the information we had. As the waves progressed, we learned to adapt and preserve the healthcare system, essential to meet the needs of the population.
Visits to Hospitals: a reflex of change
The visits to the hospitals, where we transformed spaces such as the wall of the Virgen de la Cinta Hospital into ICU, left me without words. The courage and dedication of healthcare staff were admirable. That intense stage of my life was a testament to the power of the community and its capacity for resilience.
Thanks to solidarity and vaccination
The solidarity of companies and citizens was fundamental, turning the health region into a protective material warehouse. Donations of food and products for health professionals were gestures that we will never forget. The introduction of vaccines marked a significant change, with the first dose administered on December 27, 2020, a moment that illuminated the path to recovery.
Final reflections
Looking back, it is vital to remember the lessons we have learned. Let us not forget the sacrifice of those who were on the front line and the importance of a robust health system. Health must be a priority and, as a society, we must work to ensure that our health system has the necessary resources to meet any future challenge.