in English
Today, I am a vice councillor of Tampere city and Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa and like to continue these posts of trust.
In the elections of the counties and municipalities EU citizens, Citizens of and all people who lived in Finland two years has a right to vote. See more information about the election on https://vaalit.fi/en/electoral-rights-of-foreigners
Candidate for Tampere City Council
Since 2013 I have served in the different posts of trust in Tampere City. In this ending term, until summer 2023, I served as a member of the Auditing Board. After that I have been a vice member of the City Board and a member of the City Board’s Group Division.
In particular, I am ready to work to ensure that the city provides sufficient welfare services for seniors and all its residents, without forgetting that a diverse range of cultural services and living environment is part of welfare.
Concerning the international Tampere, in my duties in Tampere city, I have constantly reminded how essential is to keep in mind that more than every tenth of people living in Tampere is not born in Finland. Therefore, Tampere City needs to deliver more English information and also basic information in the most spoken language like in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Kurdish, Russian, Somalian, Spanish and Ukrainian which are nine the most spoken foreign language in the city.
Equality for all in Tampere
- Tampere has taken action to address the shortcomings of services in the Pirkanmaa Wellbeing County, such as organizing assistants for service buses, so called Pali. The city needs to increase services that promote well-being and health. It is particularly important to ensure the adequacy and quality of services that promote the well-being of old people.
- A pleasant, green city is an essential element of well-being. In the urban planning, the needs of residents must be taken better account of. In complementary building, it has to ensure to leave space for parks and bushes. The courtyards of schools and kindergartens must be better designed to allow for outdoor recreation in the summer heat, autumn rain and winter frost.
- Culture is a key element of well-being and a welcoming city. Tampere must continue, deepen and diversify its cultural services so that they contribute to the well-being of all its citizens, whether they are adults or children, opera or punk lovers, culture followers or culture makers.
- A pleasant city is also a city where people move around smoothly and with as little pollution as possible.
- Tampere must look to the future and do all it can to reduce emissions and prevent climate change.
More about my opinions in English is available in the election compass by Yle, the Finnish public service media company.
Candidate for Wellbeing Services County Council of Pirkanmaa
In this term of county council, I have served as the first deputy member of Left Alliance Council Group in Council of the Wellbeing Services County Pirkanmaa. Until summer 2023, I served as a member of the Board’s Group and Premises Division., after that I have been a member of the Multiservice Committee. I am happy to continue my resolving work in Pirha.
The first term of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Pirha has been a difficult time and many essential social- and health services has been or cut down or totally abolished. Such now there is going on preparation of abolish or cuts for day care for old people, posts of psychiatric nurses in schools, psychiatric walk in services for young people. All over Pirkanmaa, many social- and health centres have also been closed down Thus, in the countryside, people living without own car have more difficulties to get to social- and health centre.
In Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Pirha, there is lot to improve. The most acute services which are needed to upgrade are primary health care, services for old people, mental and substance abuse treatment services.
Social- and health services do not work without competent and committed staff. Therefore, it most essential to have better working conditions in order to hold on of social and health professionals employed by Pirha and to invite new ones. Concerning on the recruitment of employees from other countries, the recruitment´process must be ethically and legally sustainable.Sufficient home care, day activities, and round-the-clock care for old people
Improving social and health services at Pirha
- Sufficient home care, day activities, and round-the-clock care for old people
- Doctor’s appointment within two weeks
- Adequate and well-functioning mental health services
- Improving working conditions in Pirha, equal pay for equal work
- Written patient communication in English for non-Finnish speakers, as well as in the most common languages spoken in Pirkanmaa (Arabic, Chinese, Estonian, Farsi, Kurdish, Russian Somali, Spanish and Ukrainian).
More about my opinions in English is available in the election compass by Yle, the Finnish public service media company
Who am I?
I am Senior Research Fellow and Chief Shop Steward at Tampere University. I have trained as a nurse and have a PhD in social sciences. In my research I have focused on health communication. You will find more information about my academic publications and duties on Tampere University’s research information system, TuniCris.
I live in Tammela, Tampere, with my husband and our almost 20-year-old cat called Vili. Read more about my education and work history on the Koulutus ja työt page (in Finnish). I have been politically active for about fifteen years. I am also an active social debater. The Kirjoituksia and Blog (in Finnish) pages contain texts that I have written in the recent years (in Finnish).
Contact me
s.torkkola at gmail.com
mobile: +358 445252736
Sinikka’s political profile on FB