reportaje-zapatos-iñaki-zuñiga

In the shoes of... Iñaki Zúñiga

IN THE SHOES OF

03 | 10 | 2024

STUDENT NEWSLETTER

Surrounded by the chestnut trees that give their name to the building where he studies, we put ourselves in the shoes of Iñaki Zúñiga, a 5th year medical student from Pamplona and a lifelong fan of Rafa Nadal and tennis (in that order).

Together with his colleagues Sergi Carulla and Juan Uranga, Iñaki is one of the volunteers of the solidarity project "Ningún baka sin sanidad", winner of the I award Álvaro del Portillo, which was presented at Founder's Week.

With the "vocation to help others" that led him to study medicine, Iñaki traveled to Cameroon this summer to do volunteer activities. It was there that he ended up meeting the Baka population, to whom he was able to provide attendance medical care, door to door.

Iñaki agrees with his classmates when he says that this project is here to stay, as they would like to continue the initiative. In addition to counting on the partnership of other medical students, they think that students from the rest of Schools could contribute to other basic needs of the Baka, such as the construction of wells or schools.

1. How did "No baka without healthcare" come about?
The project arose when Sergi, Juan and I were doing a volunteer activities in a hospital in Cameroon with Tantaka. There we met the NGO "Zerca y Lejos". They proposed us to participate in a medical campaign with the Baka and we moved to the village along with a local doctor and a nurse.

2. What does your project consist of?
The Baka are an ethnic group without access to health care, they don't even have National Identity Card, they are marginalized from society. We used to go enquiry through the villages with a small box of medicines. Most commonly we would treat malaria cases, test for HIV and treat skin infections.

3. Will you be a test that helping is really possible?
Yes, it really is possible. When you come and see the health problems that the baka have and how you can help them with medicine, at that moment you change their lives.

4. Why Medicine? Why not another degree program?
When I was little I didn't have it so clear, but as I grew up, I always saw myself as a doctor. I think it is very rewarding and nice to be able to contribute to solving people's health problems.

5. Have you already called the Baka Djoum to tell them about it?
No, because they don't have a phone number, but we have told statement to the NGO "Zerca y Lejos" and they told us that they are very happy.

6. If you had a store, what would it be?
Tennis equipment.

7. The word you use the most.
Flipas.

8. Something you didn't like before and now you do.
The volunteer activities.

9. What would be the first scene of your biopic.
Probably me with a racket.

10. What name would you give your horse.
Tony.

11. Historic moment you would have liked to live.
The first time Rafa won Roland Garros.

12. How did you experience the final of the European Championship this summer?
With a lot of emotion, in Cameroon, with my two friends and a Cameroonian who lived with us.

13. In which test of the Olympic Games would you like to compete.
In tennis.

14. A book to give as a gift.
"The Italian", by Pérez Reverte.

15. Craziest thing you've ever done for love.
A trip from Madrid to Pamplona to see my brother's soccer game.

16. Favorite movie or series.
Prison Break.

17. Why autumn.
Because it is my birthday.

18. Best decision you ever made in your life.
Choosing tennis over soccer.

19. El hormiguero or La revuelta.
El Hormiguero, obviously.

20. The University of Navarra is...
Good atmosphere.