The Mayoress of Manilva, Antonia Muñoz, and her Deputy and Councillor for Health, Emilio López Berenguer, recently met with María Antigua Escalera, the Provincial Health Delegate for the Junta de Andalucia, accompanied by the Costa del Sol District Health Director, Manuel Bayona, to solve the various problems facing Manilva’s health provisions.

Foremost of these was the status of the new health centre in Sabinillas, which the Town Council has refused to hand over the building until agreement has been reached regarding the level of operation and staffing, which is the responsibility of the Regional Health Authority.

This has now been resolved, and the facility has been designated as a Centro de Salud, providing 24-hour emergency cover, along with the usual GP, nurse and paediatric services.

The Junta will pay the 250,000 euros for the fitting out and equipping of the building, which the Manilva authorities will hand over after the last few residual works are completed.

The Town Hall anticipates the health centre will be operational in the next two to three months.

The meeting, which was held in an atmosphere of good will and co-operation, went on for a number of hours during which a number of issues were resolved, including the provision of a daily paediatric service which will be centred in Sabinillas, and will provide cover for the whole municipality.

Finally the current health centre in Sabinillas, the Casa del Mar, will be handed back for use by the Manilva authorities.