INTERVIEW. Maria del Mar Alfonso , Mayor of Albox
“Let the residents have no doubt that their mayor is working to ensure that they have the best medical care”
A new company has started working at the Albox Health Centre to restore the building to its original state
- What is happening with the Albox Health Centre?
The situation at the Health Centre is a problem that worries us a lot and we suffer from it as citizens of Albox and as a government team. As mayor and as a doctor, I have been very concerned about this situation from the first minute. Since I arrived, I have been very aware of what is happening, but, above all, I am working to solve it.
We did not create this problem, we inherited it from the previous government team that did not work to find the best solution, which was satisfied with a simple reform of the Health Centre.
It is true that this project has generated many problems because the company has not been meeting the deadlines set out in the tender with the Andalusian Health Service. And it is in this non-compliance that the problems that are generated for both the workers and the users of the Health Centre are occurring.
- And what are you doing as a government team?
We are working with the Administration, in this case with the Junta de Andalucía, to find a solution. And for our part, we are giving them a solution for the future. We are helping the administration to make that decision, so that in Albox we have the health infrastructure that all the people of Albox, and I myself, want.
- In your opinion, where does the solution lie?
Over the past few months I have met with the Health Delegate and the Councillor on several occasions to express my concerns and those of my people and to provide solutions so that they can consider other options.
I know that the attitude of the Health Department is positive. They understand us, they understand the needs of our people and the delegate has already said it on occasion; that they are going to do what is best for Albox and what the governing team of the City Council believes is best for its residents. They already demonstrated this in 2023 when the Junta de Andalucía finally provided our Health Centre with a second emergency medical team, something that has improved the urgent response of users, and which we had been asking for for many years.
I want the residents to be clear that as mayor I am very attentive to the day-to-day running of the Health Centre, that I have constant meetings. I like to work calmly, I do not like social harassment. I want the residents to have no doubt that their mayor is working on this project.
I can confirm that last Thursday a new company began working at the Health Centre. It will be responsible for restoring the building to its original state to guarantee decent care for residents and for workers to carry out their work in the best conditions.
- The solution is complicated. Are you confident that you will succeed?
I have that confidence and that is what I am working for. For me, as mayor and as a doctor, it is a wish to be able to have that health centre that all the people of Albox deserve. Not only four years ago, previous government teams also had to work to avoid us being in this situation today. Torrecillas did nothing, but neither did previous socialist governments. We see how many towns in our area have new and future-oriented health centres and we are still like this. But let no one doubt that I will do my best to ensure that Albox has the Health Centre it deserves.