The Mayor of São Brás de Alportel Municipality, responding to reader questions, addressed the situation of the new Family Health Unit (USF). The building is complete, but its operational start depends on the acquisition of equipment and the guarantee of funding for auxiliary personnel. The Municipality has already submitted an application to the Algarve 2030 community program to secure the equipment, with an estimated investment of around 308 thousand euros, assuming part of the national counterpart. However, there are still no guarantees from the Ministry of Health regarding funding for auxiliary staff. The decision on the opening date rests with the Health authorities and ULS Algarve, with the expectation that it will occur soon.
The relocation to the new building opens the opportunity to create more services at the current Health Center, such as cardiology and psychiatry, bringing healthcare closer to the population. The Municipality is advocating with the Ministry of Health for the implementation of these new services.
Regarding the intervention on Municipal Road 1202, in Ribeira do Alportel, the slope stabilization, road repair, and water network intervention works are expected to be completed by the end of November, allowing for the progressive restoration of safety and circulation conditions in this access to our mountainous area. As for the larger intervention in the Cova da Muda area, the project is approved, and work is underway to revise the tender procedure documents for the launch of the contract. This structural intervention, with an estimated investment of 1 million euros, is crucial for the safety and accessibility of the area.
On the critical rural fire season, the Mayor highlighted the absence of major fires in the municipality to date, a result of continuous investment in prevention, surveillance, and response capacity. Actions included maintenance of forest paths, clearing of verges and fuel management strips, as well as funding for intervention teams, participation in DECIR, and collaboration with the Army and Volunteer Firefighters. The Municipality has been covering most of the operational expenses for the Firefighters' station and acquired four emergency vehicles, representing a regional investment of over 1 million euros.
For the upcoming rainy season, prevention remains a priority, with road network maintenance, verge clearing, and attention to drainage conditions, aiming to anticipate risks and respond to more demanding situations.
