Nathaly López Borja Explained
Nathaly Cristina López Borja (Guayaquil, 23 November 1987 - Guayaquil, 28 March 2023)[1] was an Ecuadorian commerce and finance engineer, activist, and university professor, with extensive experience in public service within the administrative field in the country's hospitals.[2] [3] She stood out for her commitment in the fight against corruption.[4] [5] [6]
Biography
Nathaly Cristina López Borja was born on 23 November 1987, in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil.
She completed her primary and secondary education at the German School of Guayaquil (1993 - 2005), where she graduated with a degree in Commercial Informatics.[7]
After studying at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil (2007 - 2012), she obtained a degree in International Commerce and Finance Engineering. She earned a master's degree in education from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (2015 - 2017), and another one in Business Administration (2019 - 2020) from the University of Espíritu Santo (UEES). She was pursuing a Ph.D. in Administration and Organizational Management at UEES, which she began in 2021.[8]
In addition to her professional practice, she also volunteered at the Humboldt German School of Guayaquil and was actively involved in the Animal Rescue Foundation of Ecuador.
Career
Between 2015 and 2017, she worked as an administrative analyst at the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security. She served as a university professor in strategic administration at the University of Espíritu Santo.[9]
On 25 October 2022, she was appointed director of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Specialties Hospital,[10] with responsibilities including overall administrative coordination. She supervised various areas, including public procurement. She was also in charge of general financial coordination and general human resources coordination.[11]
López implemented changes in the procurement processes and, together with the hospital's administrative team, monitored and even blocked instances of corruption. She held press conferences and visited media outlets[12] to explain the ongoing work and her aim to make procurement transparent and provide better service to affiliates and retirees. With documents in hand, she referred to progress in the provision of medication and projects to continue in that direction. Nathaly López identified corruption instances from previous administrations in administrative, financial, human resources, maintenance, public procurement, and even in the morgue, where there had been cases of corpse trafficking in the past. She also coordinated with medical heads to initiate procurement processes for medicines and supplies to avoid shortages in the pharmacy.
Murder
On the night of 28 March 2023, as she was leaving her work shift at 8:30 PM,[13] López was driving her vehicle towards her home[14] [15] when she was ambushed by two hitmen[16] at the intersection of the elevated viaduct of Pío Jaramillo Avenue.[17] The attack took place while hospital executives were promoting a procedure to make public procurement processes transparent.[18]
Repercussions
Following the attack on Nathaly López, several officials holding managerial positions at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Specialties Hospital tendered their resignations between the night of Tuesday,[19] [20] 28 March, and the morning of Wednesday, 29 March,[21] [22] after receiving threats such as "If you don't resign tomorrow, you'll die too."[23] Less than 12 hours after the crime,[24] there was a massive resignation of officials, with reports of death threats targeting chiefs and coordinators working at the hospital. Around twenty resignations were submitted through the Quipux system, the Ecuadorian government's platform, and nine of them were officially accepted the following morning. Doctors at the hospital reported that several employees received threats.[25] Fear and concern persist.[26] A week before López's murder, photos of threats were circulating in the elevators. Workers are afraid to report it, suspecting that some of their own colleagues are leaking information. The IESS categorically condemned violence against HTMC personnel and urged authorities to investigate these incidents and hold those responsible accountable.[27] [28]
Her death caused great shock within the hospital community.[29] She was described as a brilliant professional with many virtues who wanted to transform a hospital.[30] The following morning, the media reported the bitter disappointment that someone fighting against corruption had become a victim of violence.
The society cannot be indifferent to these events; the authorities must clarify the incidents, and the law must punish them. Only then will this death not be just another one, and the young people who dare to work for an honest country will not give up.
The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, expressed his solidarity with Nathaly López's family, lamenting the crime against the official. On his part, the Vice President of the Republic, Alfredo Borrero, stated that the crime brings mourning to the country, but above all to the healthcare system where she 'contributed with professionalism and human quality.'[31] [32] Violence and corruption cannot take away more innocent lives. The responsible individuals for this crime must be held accountable before justice and society," added Borrero. Former Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner rejected the crime during an interview on Ecuavisa. "She was an honorable young woman. She has died defending the interests of Ecuadorians, refusing to yield to the criminal mafias of that hospital, which, to this day, manage to elude justice."
The Office of the Attorney General opened an investigation into the murder of Nathaly López, director of the Teodoro Maldonado Hospital of the IESS.[33] The National Police of Ecuador reported that specialized units have been deployed to apprehend those responsible for this crime. "We will not allow this incident to go unpunished."[34] The incident reaffirms the levels of violence and insecurity that the Andean country is currently facing in 2023.[35] Following the attack on López, officials from three hospitals are under protection due to organized crime attacks.[36] The hospitals of the IESS are under police intelligence intervention after Nathaly López's murder. The objective is to detect the mafias operating within Ecuador's healthcare system, which would be involved in the crime, as well as other attacks against healthcare workers.[37]
Tributes
The North External Consultation building of Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital has been dedicated in honor of Nathaly López Borja, who held the position of administrative director of the hospital.[38]
Notes and References
- Web site: Molina . Gustavo Adolfo . Directora de hospital asesinada en Guayaquil: los detalles de la escena del crimen . Hospital director murdered in Guayaquil: the details of the crime scene . expreso.ec . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403184003/https://www.expreso.ec/guayaquil/directora-hospital-asesinada-detalles-escena-crimen-155489.html . 3 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Proaño . Nicole . ¿Quiénes mandaron a matar a Nathaly López, directora del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado del IESS? . Who ordered the death of Nathaly López, director of the Teodoro Maldonado Hospital of the IESS?. 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403175530/https://www.metroecuador.com.ec/noticias/2023/03/29/quienes-mandaron-a-matar-a-nathaly-lopez-directora-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-del-iess/ . 3 April 2023. Spanish.
- Web site: Cadena . Roberto . Nathaly López: ¿Quién era la directora administrativa del Teodoro Maldonado asesinada en Guayaquil? . Nathaly López: Who was the administrative director of the Teodoro Maldonado murdered in Guayaquil?. 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417153043/https://www.metroecuador.com.ec/noticias/2023/03/29/nathaly-lopez-quien-era-la-directora-administrativa-del-teodoro-maldonado-asesinada-en-guayaquil/ . 17 April 2023. Spanish.
- Web site: A mes seguido, dos directivos del hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo, del IESS, sufrieron ataques violentos. A month later, two directors of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital, from the IESS, suffered violent attacks . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404000706/https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-directora-administrativa-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-iess-asesinada-nota/?modulo=interstitial_link&seccion=Noticias&subseccion=Seguridad&origen=/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-asesinado-balazos-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-nota/ . 4 April 2023. Spanish.
- Web site: De la Gasca . José . Deber Mortal . Deadly duty. Expreso . 3 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230416154949/https://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.expreso.ec/opinion/columnas/jose-de-la-gasca/deber-mortal-157442.html . 16 April 2023. Spanish.
- Web site: Hay muchos cabos sueltos entre atentados, amenazas y renuncias al IESS . There are many loose ends between attacks, threats and resignations from the IESS . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421033532/https://www.eluniverso.com/opinion/editoriales/ni-indiferencia-ni-impunidad-en-el-asesinato-de-nathaly-lopez-directora-del-hospital-del-iess-teodoro-maldonado-nota/ . 21 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Lasso: "Lucha contra la corrupción en hospitales genera violencia. . Lasso: "The fight against corruption in hospitals generates violence" . Primicias . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403185550/https://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/sucesos/nathaly-lopez-teodoro-maldonado-mafias/ . 3 April 2023. Spanish .
- Web site: Newsroom newspaper El Universo . ¿Quién era Nathaly López, la directora administrativa del Teodoro Maldonado Carbo asesinada a balazos? . Who was Nathaly López, the administrative director of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo who was shot to death? . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403210857/https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-asesinada-balazos-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-iess-nota/ . 3 April 2023. Spanish.
- Web site: El Comercio . ¿Quién era Nathaly López? Directora de Hospital asesinada en Guayaquil . Who was Nathaly Lopez? Hospital director assassinated in Guayaquil. El Comercio . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403210151/https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/guayaquil/quien-nathaly-lopez-directora-hospital-asesinada.html . 3 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Bolaños . Carlos . Nathaly López ‘Pelotera’, amiguera y viajera; lo que no conocías de la directora del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado . Nathaly López 'ballplayer', friend and traveler; what you did not know about the director of the Teodoro Maldonado Hospital . Metro . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403204820/https://www.metroecuador.com.ec/noticias/2023/03/29/asesinaron-a-nathaly-lopez-pelotera-amiguera-y-viajera-lo-que-no-conocias-de-la-directora-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado/ . 3 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Personal de inteligencia del Estado ya indaga denuncias de corrupción en el Teodoro Maldonado Carbo, dice director del IESS . State intelligence personnel are already investigating corruption allegations at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital, says the director of the IESS. . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426210044/https://www.eluniverso.com/guayaquil/comunidad/intervencion-hospital-teodoro-maldona-carbo-iess-asesinato-nathaly-lopez-nota/ . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Asesinan a Nathaly López, directora del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo del IESS en el sur de Guayaquil. . Nathaly López, director of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital of the IESS in the south of Guayaquil, is murdered. . Ecuavisa . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424112937/https://www.ecuavisa.com/noticias/seguridad/asesinan-a-nathaly-lopez-directora-del-hospital-iess-teodoro-maldonado-guayaquil-YM4790562 . 24 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Directora del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado es asesinada por sicarios . Director of the Teodoro Maldonado Hospital is assassinated by hitmen . Radio La Calle . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404151931/https://radiolacalle.com/directora-de-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-es-asesinada-por-sicarios/ . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Muere tiroteada la directora administrativa de un hospital de Guayaquil, Ecuador . The administrative director of a hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador is shot dead . Europa Press International . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417230825/https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-muere-directora-administrativa-hospital-guayaquil-ecuador-20230329054106.html . 17 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Muere la directora administrativa de un hospital de Guayaquil, Ecuador . The administrative director of a hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador dies . La Nación (Argentina) . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230506050952/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/agencias/muere-la-directora-administrativa-de-un-hospital-de-guayaquil-ecuador-nid29032023/ . 6 May 2023.
- Web site: Directora Administrativa de Hospital del IESS es asesinada en Guayaquil . Administrative Director of the IESS Hospital is assassinated in Guayaquil. El Comercio . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426203518/https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/seguridad/directora-administrativa-hospital-iess-asesinada-guayaquil.html . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Así encontraron a Nathaly López, directora administrativa del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado . This is how they found Nathaly López, administrative director of the Teodoro Maldonado Hospital. Diario Extra Ecuador . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426192718/https://www.extra.ec/noticia/judicial/encontraron-nathaly-lopez-directora-administrativa-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-82615.html . 26 April 2023.
- Web site: Nueve funcionarios del hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo han renunciado luego del asesinato de directora administrativa . Nine officials from Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital have resigned following the murder of the administrative director . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426194935/https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-teodoro-maldonado-iess-asesinada-sicariato-nota/ . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Funcionarios del Teodoro Maldonado Carbo renunciaron tras asesinato de Nathaly López . Teodoro Maldonado Carbo officials resigned after the murder of Nathaly López . Vistazo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426200100/https://www.vistazo.com/actualidad/nacional/funcionarios-del-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-renunciaron-tras-asesinato-de-nathaly-lopez-DJ4795489 . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Cadena . Roberto . Trabajadores del hospital Teodoro Maldonado renunciaron tras el sicariato de Nathaly López . Workers at the Teodoro Maldonado hospital resigned after the assassination of Nathaly López . Metro Ecuador . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426200809/https://www.metroecuador.com.ec/noticias/2023/03/29/trabajadores-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-renunciaron-tras-el-sicariato-de-nathaly-lopez/ . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Calderón . Ana . Renuncia de funcionarios del hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo del IESS, tras asesinato de Nathaly López . Resignation of officials from the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital of the IESS, after the murder of Nathaly López. D´Una . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404124916/https://deunanoticias.com/renuncia-de-funcionarios-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-del-iess-tras-asesinato-de-nathaly-lopez/ . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Nathaly López: Funcionarios de hospital del IESS renuncian tras asesinato de directora . Nathaly López: IESS hospital officials resign after the murder of the director . Ecuavisa . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424113833/https://www.ecuavisa.com/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-iess-asesinato-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-CL4793015 . 24 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Tras asesinato de directora administrativa y de recibir amenazas, al menos seis funcionarios del hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo renunciaron . El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404113435/https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-asesinado-balazos-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-nota/?modulo=interstitial_link&seccion=Noticias&subseccion=Seguridad&origen=/noticias/seguridad/nathaly-lopez-asesinada-balazos-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-iess-nota/ . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Renuncias masivas en el hospital de Guayaquil tras el asesinato de funcionaria . Massive resignations at the Guayaquil hospital after the murder of an official . El Comercio . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501172538/https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador/renuncias-masivas-hospital-guayaquil-asesinato-funcionaria.html . 1 May 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Personal del hospital Teodoro Maldonado estaría bajo el asedio criminal . Teodoro Maldonado hospital staff would be under criminal siege . Extra . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426191504/https://www.extra.ec/noticia/judicial/personal-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-estaria-asedio-criminal-82662.html . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Tubay . Nelson . Si Nathaly murió por una causa, no voy a renunciar': gerente del Teodoro Maldonado . If Nathaly died for a cause, I will not resign': manager of Teodoro Maldonado . Diario Expreso Ecuador . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501170921/https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/nathaly-murio-causa-renunciar-156510.html . 1 May 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: IESS confirma la renuncia de seis funcionarios del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo . IESS confirms the resignation of six officials from the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital. El Telégrafo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404134440/https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/actualidad/44/iess-confirma-la-renuncia-de-seis-funcionarios-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-carbo . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Asesinan a Nathaly López, directora del Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo del IESS en Guayaquil . Nathaly López, director of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital of the IESS in Guayaquil, is murdered. El Diario . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404154207/https://www.eldiario.ec/portada-centro/asesinan-a-nathaly-lopez-directora-del-hospital-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-del-iess-en-guayaquil/ . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: shock within the hospital community. . Shock over the crime of Nathaly López. Teleamazonas . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425020235/https://www.teleamazonas.com/asesinan-directora-administrativa-teodoro-maldonado-carbo/ . 25 April 2023.
- Web site: Monteverde . Mario . Cartas al Director: Caso Nathaly López . Letters to the Editor: Nathaly López Case. El Universo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417224344/https://www.eluniverso.com/opinion/cartas-al-director/caso-nathaly-lopez-nota/ . 17 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Autoridades se pronuncian tras sicariato de Nathaly López: ¿qué se sabe sobre una presunta renuncia masiva en el hospital? . Authorities speak out after the assassination of Nathaly López: what is known about an alleged massive resignation in the hospital? . Vistazo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404115719/https://www.vistazo.com/actualidad/nacional/autoridades-se-pronuncian-tras-sicariato-de-nathaly-lopez-que-se-sabe-sobre-una-presunta-renuncia-masiva-en-el-hospital-LL4793159 . 4 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Loaiza . Yalilé . Asesinaron a la directora administrativa de un hospital de Guayaquil . The administrative director of a hospital in Guayaquil was murdered. Infobae . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419061105/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2023/03/29/asesinaron-a-la-directora-administrativa-de-un-hospital-de-guayaquil/ . 19 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Fiscalía abre investigación por asesinato de la directora administrativa del hospital en Guayaquil . Prosecutor opens investigation for the murder of the administrative director of the hospital in Guayaquil. El Comercio . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404160039/https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/guayaquil/fiscalia-investigacion-asesinato-directora-hospital-guayaquil.html . 4 April 2023.
- Web site: Policía busca a los responsables del asesinato a directora de hospital en Guayaquil . Police are looking for those responsible for the murder of the hospital director in Guayaquil . El Telégrafo . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426201616/https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/actualidad/44/policia-busca-a-los-responsables-del-asesinato-a-directora-de-hospital-en-guayaquil . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Asesinato de directora de hospital en Ecuador reafirma inseguridad . Murder of hospital director in Ecuador reaffirms insecurity . Prensa Latina . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426202530/https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2023/03/29/asesinato-de-directora-de-hospital-en-ecuador-reafirma-inseguridad . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Funcionarios de tres hospitales tienen resguardo tras los ataques del crimen organizado . Officials from three hospitals have shelter after organized crime attacks. La Hora . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426204105/https://www.lahora.com.ec/pais/funcionarios-de-tres-hospitales-tienen-resguardo-tras-los-ataques-del-crimen-organizado/ . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Militares realizan control de armas en el hospital de Los Ceibos . Soldiers carry out weapons control at the Los Ceibos hospital . Primicias . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426205440/https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/sociedad/diego-salgado-hospitales-iess-intervenidos/ . 26 April 2023 . Spanish.
- Web site: Consulta Externa del Teodoro Maldonado Carbo lleva el nombre de Nathaly López, exdirectora administrativa asesinada en marzo de este año. . The Teodoro Maldonado Carbo External Consultation is named after Nathaly López, former administrative director who was murdered in March of this year.. El Universo . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708232752/https://www.eluniverso.com/guayaquil/comunidad/consulta-externa-teodoro-maldonado-carbo-nombre-nathaly-lopez-borja-nota/ . 8 July 2023 . Spanish.