Access of women to health care access is assurance of equality, says Regional Director for Health
The Regional Director for Health stated in Praia da Vitória that health gains and reduction of inequalities have also been achieved through the assurance of the access of women and children to health services.
In this context, Tânia Cortez stressed the importance of political action in "fostering the organisation and complementarity between primary and hospital care," adding that "the Regional Health Service has been working every day to accomplish this goal."
The Regional Director spoke at the opening of a seminar on women's health, an initiative organised by Terceira Health Unit under the International Women's Day celebrations.
In her speech, she recalled the measures that have been implemented in recent years through the Regional Health Plan, a fundamental axis for the reduction of maternal, perinatal and infant mortality rates.
"Although the Region has registered positive developments with regard to these indicators in recent years, their improvement should be a priority for health services," said the government official.
As for the measures to promote women's health, Tânia Cortez emphasised the reproductive health newsletter, implemented in all health centres, and family planning consultations, which have registered an increase.
The available data indicate that the number of family planning visits rose from 4,203 in 2013 to 7,058 in 2014 and 14,648 tin he following year, reaching 19,712 consultations in 2016.
Tânia Cortez also stressed that the extension of the Regional Health Plan to 2020 includes actions to be developed in the areas of maternal health and family planning, interconnecting them with the prevention of oncological diseases.
"It is urgent to continue working with communities so that the monitoring of women's health is valued as a means of promoting health through identification and intervention on modifiable risk factors," said the Regional Director.