Anita Velastegui
Anita Priscela Velastegui Ramos (born July 6, 1942 in Ambato , Ecuador ) was one of the first three women in the armed forces of Ecuador to achieve the rank of colonel . She served as a medical officer .
Young years
Anita Velastegui is the daughter of a farmer and grew up with her four siblings in the agricultural town of Ambato (often referred to as the city of flowers and fruits ). There she went to the Cevallos School. At the age of twelve she switched to the "Colegio Nacional Ambato", a girls' high school, where she acquired the general university entrance qualification at the age of 18. After graduating from high school, Velastegui moved to the capital Quito and began studying dentistry at the state university, Universidad Central del Ecuador , which she graduated in 1966.
She was not pursuing her own dream, but that of her father Estuardo. His brother Hector was a dentist and owned a practice in Quito. The success and reputation that he enjoyed through his profession were the decisive role model for Estuardo, which his eldest daughter should emulate. She actually wanted to become a teacher. At the age of six she dared to share this idea with her father, but the father refused.
Military career
In 1974 she began her service in the medical service of the armed forces. At that time, a total of 13 female graduated officers were hired to occupy positions in various areas. Since there was as yet no special training for women, the same strict standards applied to them as to men.
She served in many parts of the country, for example in the city of Cuenca , in the southwestern province of El Oro , in Cayambe and then for a long time in the capital Quito in the military hospital, where she practiced her dental profession. After around 20 years and the consistent fulfillment of strict requirements, three female officers (including Velastegui) were promoted to the military rank of "colonel" for the first time in the history of Ecuador. Of the three female officers, Velastegui had the best career ratings in the military. Immediately after her promotion, she was entrusted with new tasks and held the position of head of the health department of the armed forces of Ecuador until she was retired after 25 years of military service.
nowadays
Since her retirement, Velastegui has discovered painting as a hobby. For over 10 years she has been attending painting courses in the culture house in Quito ( Casa de la Cultura del Ecuador ). She regularly makes her more than 50 works in various styles and techniques available to the public through exhibitions.
She lives in the center of the capital, has been married to Numa Pompilio Garces Altamirano for 30 years and has three grown sons: David, Pablo and Miguel.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Report of the Ecuadorian magazine Vistazo (Span.) ( Memento of 18 March 2012 at the Internet Archive ), last accessed 18 February 2011
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Velastegui, Anita |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Velastegui Ramos, Anita Priscela (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Ecuadorian dentist and officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 6, 1942 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ambato , Ecuador |