News
- Following its initial phase in Quillagua, the program is continuing in María Elena to gather key information before medical specialists arrive.
The second phase of the “Comprehensive Healthcare Project for María Elena and Quillagua” has been launched in the municipality of María Elena. The project is being implemented by the Acrux Foundation under the Regional Government’s EMRA initiative, with support from the municipality and its staff, as well as SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition. The initiative aims to strengthen primary care through a community-based assessment that identifies needs and makes referrals to specialists.
The plan calls for a total of 4,800 medical consultations to be provided. It began in January in Quillagua, where 282 medical services were provided, including hemoglobin tests and dermatological examinations. This month, efforts are focused on María Elena, where staff are conducting health surveys and preparing for the next phase of specialized care.
In this context, Aníbal Abogabir, Manager of Community Relations and Public Affairs at SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition, noted that this initiative is one of many events leading up to María Elena’s centennial. “The initiative will provide a comprehensive assessment of the population, enabling specialists to be deployed on a case-by-case basis to address needs and reduce waiting lists,” he commented.
For her part, María Elena’s mayor, Viviana Cuello, emphasized that the program’s design was based on a process of active listening and local prioritization. “We heeded the concerns of the communities of María Elena and Quillagua, which for years felt neglected when it came to healthcare. That is why we are promoting a strategy based on a realistic assessment, one that will enable us to attract the professionals we need,” she explained.
Regarding technical progress, Roberto Levin, executive director of the Acrux Foundation, added: “After completing the process in January, we began work in María Elena this week, aiming to survey about 4,000 residents to identify their primary health needs,” he said.
In addition, during the kick-off of the second phase of María Elena’s comprehensive health plan, the Arturo López Pérez Foundation (FALP), in partnership with Generadora Metropolitana, conducted a campaign focused on the prevention and detection of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. Self-care workshops have also been held at the María Elena Technical High School.
Leonor Castillo, the acting regional representative for the Ministry of Health, spoke on the ministry’s behalf about the importance of coordination among public and private entities and the community. “These partnerships are essential to the project’s success, as they enable timely diagnoses and appropriate treatments, thereby positively impacting the population,” she remarked.
At the kick-off, the first awards were also given for the “Centenary Recognition” contest: Francisco Tapia Aguilera in the Sports category and Martín Vega Guerra in the Culture and Heritage category.
With this initiative, María Elena is moving toward a more community-centered, preventive care model that is tailored to the needs of its community.
