OncoBierzo launches ‘Escojo vida’ campaign to highlight healthcare disparities

The OncoBierzo platform has launched the ‘Escojo vida’ (I choose life) campaign, an initiative aimed at demonstrating that a person's postal code should not determine their life expectancy. The campaign utilizes an interactive digital map of Spain where citizens can “light up” their postal codes to highlight regional deficiencies in healthcare, education, or housing.

Participants can select specific issues to defend, such as public healthcare, pediatric availability, local oncology services, surgical wait times, or affordable housing. As more people from a specific area participate, that location shines brighter on the nocturnal map. The organization's goal is to ensure no province remains “in the dark,” reflecting shared demands across both urban and rural areas.

This movement follows previous demonstrations at Madrid's Callao Square and the entrance of the Hospital de León. The campaign also encourages social media participation by asking users to post photos of handwritten messages featuring the word ‘escojo’ and their postal code using the hashtag #EscojoVida. Data from the Ministry of Health indicates that life expectancy in Spain can vary by up to five years depending on the autonomous community.