The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Praia da Vitória that the organisation of the Medical Response to Major Incidents (MRMI) course in the Azores brings "added value, especially in healthcare provision in exceptional situations, and is a clear evidence of the understanding between the Azores and Madeira."

Luís Cabral spoke at the opening ceremony of the second period of the MRMI course, an initiative attended by the Regional Secretary for Health of Madeira. The government official highlighted the collaboration of the Regional Health Service of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (SESARAM) in the organisation of this course.

The Regional Secretary mentioned that this course embodies the "willingness" of both Regional Governments to "strengthen ties between fraternal peoples" and develop "protocols of understanding, training and strengthening of these ties." This desire has been recently expressed during the visit of the President of the Regional Government of Madeira to the Azores, at the invitation of Vasco Cordeiro.

"We are very pleased to see in the area of health the implementation of one of the first protocols of understanding that were signed about two weeks," said the government official.

"We are also here today to achieve something that was an important aspiration of both Regional Governments in order to be closer and jointly respond to the new challenges that lie ahead," added Luís Cabral.

As for the visit of the Regional Secretary for Health of Madeira in the context of this course, the government official stressed that it "is intended to identify new contact points so that the relation between both Autonomous Regions may strengthen in other areas."

In his speech, Luís Cabral stressed that the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira may be "an excellent example of quality in the areas of intervention and catastrophe" for the rest of the country, adding that, with the help of all future trainers "we will be a national example that results from the good collaboration spirit between Regions."

The MRMI Course is conducted by the Regional Secretariat for Health, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA). It was taught by a team of trainers from Madeira International Disaster Training Centre (MIDTC).