Vilma Ripoll
Encyclopedia
Vilma Ripoll is an Argentine nurse and politician.
, Santa Fe Province
, in 1954. She enrolled at the National University of Rosario
School of Medicine, and earned a degree in nursing
in 1975; while a student, in 1973, Ripoll co-founded the Centro de Estudiantes de Enfermería (Nursing Student Center). Ripoll helped organize a relief mission for workers at an Acindar steel plant in Villa Constitución
whose health benefits had been cut in retaliation for their electing a left-wing shop steward. She then later joined the Trotskyite Socialist Workers' Party. These activities made her a target during the subsequent Dirty War
, however, and in 1977, she left her post at the government health service, PAMI, and sought refuge in Colombia
.
She continued her support for labor unions while in Colombia, and co-founded the Health Workers' Union (SUTS). She returned to Argentina following the return to democratic rule in 1983, and from 1989 to 1999, served as shop steward of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires
employees union, during which tenure she was elected to the Health Workers' Federation (FATSA) congress. Ripoll ran against the union's director, West Ocampo, for the post, but was defeated.
She was, however, elected to the Buenos Aires City Legislature
on the Socialist Workers' Movement
(MST) ticket in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. An agreement between the MST and the Communist Party of Argentina
resulted in her resignation from the body in December 2004, in favor of Marcos Wolman.
Ripoll returned to her administrative post at the Italian Hospital. An obstetrician by practice, she became known for her support of the legalization of abortion in Argentina
. An estimated 500,000 abortions are performed annually in Argentina (compared to around 700,000 live births), resulting in at least 10,000 hospitalizations due to complications, as well as over 100 deaths; Ripoll cited the example of Spain
, were maternal death
s fell dramatically, and the number of procedures themselves fell by over half, following its legalization.
She ran for a seat in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
for the Province of Buenos Aires in 2005, and, with veteran actor Héctor Bidonde
, for the Presidency in 2007; but she failed on both occasions.
Life and times
Vilma Ana Ripoll was born in FirmatFirmat
Firmat is a city located in the south of Santa Fe Province, Argentina in the Departamento General López. The main economic resources are agro-industry and agriculture. The city covers an area of about 226 km² . The population of Firmat stood at 18,294 per the 2001 national census...
, Santa Fe Province
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
, in 1954. She enrolled at the National University of Rosario
National University of Rosario
The National University of Rosario is a research, educational and public university located in the city of Rosario, province of Santa Fe, Argentina.-Overview:...
School of Medicine, and earned a degree in nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
in 1975; while a student, in 1973, Ripoll co-founded the Centro de Estudiantes de Enfermería (Nursing Student Center). Ripoll helped organize a relief mission for workers at an Acindar steel plant in Villa Constitución
Villa Constitución
Villa Constitución is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, and the head town of the Constitución Department. It is located on the south-western banks of the Paraná River between the courses of the Arroyo Pavón and the Arroyo del Medio, about 214 km south from the provincial capital,...
whose health benefits had been cut in retaliation for their electing a left-wing shop steward. She then later joined the Trotskyite Socialist Workers' Party. These activities made her a target during the subsequent Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
, however, and in 1977, she left her post at the government health service, PAMI, and sought refuge in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
She continued her support for labor unions while in Colombia, and co-founded the Health Workers' Union (SUTS). She returned to Argentina following the return to democratic rule in 1983, and from 1989 to 1999, served as shop steward of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
The Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires is a private hospital in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. It has 500 beds and serves around 2,000 inpatients per month. Its main facilities cover a surface area of 78,000 m² . The hospital treats both private patients and those derived by social security...
employees union, during which tenure she was elected to the Health Workers' Federation (FATSA) congress. Ripoll ran against the union's director, West Ocampo, for the post, but was defeated.
She was, however, elected to the Buenos Aires City Legislature
Buenos Aires City Legislature
The Buenos Aires City Legislature is a central part of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, as well as an architectural landmark in the city's Montserrat section.-History:...
on the Socialist Workers' Movement
Workers' Socialist Movement (Argentina)
The Workers' Socialist Movement is a Trotskyist political party in Argentina. The MST was founded in 1992 as a split from another Trotskyist group, the Movement Towards Socialism . The MST is active on a number of college campuses, including the University of Buenos Aires...
(MST) ticket in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. An agreement between the MST and the Communist Party of Argentina
Communist Party of Argentina
The Communist Party of Argentina is a communist party from Argentina. It was founded in 1918.At the 2005 legislative elections, the Party joined the Encuentro Amplio with other left-wing parties in Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province...
resulted in her resignation from the body in December 2004, in favor of Marcos Wolman.
Ripoll returned to her administrative post at the Italian Hospital. An obstetrician by practice, she became known for her support of the legalization of abortion in Argentina
Abortion in Argentina
Abortion in Argentina is strictly limited by law. Until 2007 there were no confirmed figures of performed abortions; health authorities estimated 500,000 per year , in most cases presumably illegal and often outside proper sanitary conditions. Around 80,000 patients per year are hospitalized due to...
. An estimated 500,000 abortions are performed annually in Argentina (compared to around 700,000 live births), resulting in at least 10,000 hospitalizations due to complications, as well as over 100 deaths; Ripoll cited the example of Spain
Abortion in Spain
Abortion in Spain was fully legalized on July 5, 2010. It is currently available on request during the first trimester.It was available in a restricted form from July 5, 1985...
, were maternal death
Maternal death
Maternal death, or maternal mortality, also "obstetrical death" is the death of a woman during or shortly after a pregnancy. In 2010, researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, estimated global maternal mortality in 2008 at 342,900 , of...
s fell dramatically, and the number of procedures themselves fell by over half, following its legalization.
She ran for a seat in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
for the Province of Buenos Aires in 2005, and, with veteran actor Héctor Bidonde
Héctor Bidonde
Héctor Pastor Bidonde is a noted Argentine theatre, film and television actor.Bidonde was born in La Plata, in 1937. He was a shift worker in a tool & dye factory when, in 1954, he was offered a part in Carlos P. Cabral's play Amarretes...
, for the Presidency in 2007; but she failed on both occasions.