Official Announcement of Name and Context
The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has announced that the third hospital in Malaga capital—until now referred to by that provisional label—will be named “Hospital Virgen de la Esperanza”, at an event held this Tuesday with representatives of the Archicofradía del Paso y la Esperanza de Málaga and the mayor Francisco de la Torre.
Moreno emphasized that this choice is made "after verifying that this initiative has the majority support of Malagueñan society" and that it overcomes the coldness of a generic name, bringing the project closer to "something that evokes the future and that contains, precisely, hope."
Statements by Juanma Moreno
In his words, the regional president highlighted several key points about the meaning of the new name:
He stated that hope is the feeling most expressed by those who, unfortunately, have to go to a hospital: "that hope that can never be lost in curing, in healing, in improving... and, ultimately, in leaving those facilities healthy". Moreno recalled that the hospital will be "the most important civil work in Andalusia", with an approximate investment of 543 million euros, and that its construction will provide a "leap in healthcare quality" in the province.
In relation to the Archicofraternity's proposal, he highlighted the "strong link created between the image of this virgin and health itself," as well as the social and charitable connection of the confraternity with health and social causes. Furthermore, Moreno assured that the laying of the first stone will take place "in a matter of weeks," after more than two decades of waiting by Málaga society for the project to move forward effectively.
Hospital Project Details
As announced:
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The new hospital will be built on the grounds adjacent to the current Málaga Civil Hospital, specifically where the current car park is located.
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It will feature 815 single rooms, 48 operating rooms, 158 medical specialty rooms, and areas dedicated to teaching and research.
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The design is conceived as an innovative building that, in addition to its healthcare function, aims to integrate into the city as a healthcare benchmark.
Social Reaction and Institutional Support
The initial proposal to name the hospital in honor of Our Lady of Hope was promoted by the Archicofradía del Paso y la Esperanza, which has gathered endorsements from thousands of citizens, institutions, and local groups.
This endorsement includes entities such as the Málaga City Council, local sports clubs, health and educational associations, as well as other brotherhoods and social organizations, which see in the new name a symbol of collective hope in the face of illness.