Aracataca, Magdalena, November 2, 2022. While the sun brightens life, with its average 32 degrees, María meanders through Aracataca's main park.
Beside her, a bronze sculpture representing Gabriel García-Márquez with his typewriter gives life to a rumor that says, contrary to the Nobel Prize winner's story, that "something good is going to happen in this town."
The purple and red flowers in María's hands are for her mother, she says, since she trusts that something will come and will be good for everyone.
"That's what a neighbor told me, but I didn't believe him, because he's always pulling people's leg," she says, with a nervous laugh, referring to tomorrow's event, which will be led by the president, Gustavo Petro, and the minister of health and social protection, Carolina Corcho.
Meanwhile, the flowers that she is carrying move to the rhythm of her hands and brush against her white dress with black polka dots, which goes down to her knees.
This Thursday, in Aracataca, Magdalena, the National Government, headed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, will present Your Territorial Health Preventive Program.
This is an initiative that seeks to return the person to the center of the health system. To not treat only the disease in Colombia but, rather, to take steps towards the prevention and prediction of diseases.
Something good is going to happen in this town, and it's not a premonition like that mother in Gabo's story. This was actually told to María by a neighbor, who points out that, hopefully, "we will stop waiting up to three months for a doctor's appointment." And, indeed, the program promoted by this Ministry is striving on achieving this goal.
"And for it to protect and provide health to children and older adults," adds María, who, although in few words, describes a historic claim in this country. "I'll go tomorrow, if I can," she says, referring to the event.
Before continuing her journey home, some petals fall from María's hands that, on this sunny Wednesday morning, will continue in the main park, before the breeze that she feels blows them away.
Along the way and prior to tomorrow's session, teacher Yurani Causil also hopes that something good will happen in this town and throughout Colombia.
She shyly points out that the country's desire is for the National Government to continue working so that citizens stop suffering what they endure today: "I would like care to be more efficient," says the teacher emphatically.
While the sounds of setting up the event are heard in the background, Causil assures that this "is of the utmost importance, since health is essential for all citizens."
On the other side of the town, with the crossing of the 150 wagons of the train carrying coal from the region, Keiner Montesino Ramírez, from Aracataca and working as a cycle-taxi, recognizes this Government and assures that he feels that it really listens to the population.
"May everything get better," says Keiner with the chimes of the train in the background, announcing its passing. "And that health will change for everyone," he adds.
For them, for the public and for the country, something good is going to happen this Thursday. Although it may sound redundant, it is clear that the Preventive and Predictive Health Program responds to the need of Colombians to see their fundamental right to health guaranteed, which has been a constant claim in Aracataca, Bogotá or the Amazon.
And the premonition of María, Keiner and Yurani will come true, when the program is consolidated and expanded and it becomes a confirmed fact: something good is happening… in the health of Colombia.
