The Regional Secretary for Health stressed today that the local policies the Regional Health Service has promoted with the Azorean population through the health units installed in several Azorean villages.

Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Arrifes Health Unit in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, Luís Cabral highlighted the work carried out by the Village Council in the recovery of the building where the health unit is installed, considering it a "good sign of the partnership between the Government and local authorities in the provision of proximity healthcare."

On the occasion, the Regional Secretariat for Health and Arrifes Village Council signed a cooperation protocol to continue the remodelling of proximity healthcare facilities.

"With the opening of the new Ponta Delgada Health Centre, we move to a second phase, consisting in the remodelling of health facilities throughout the Region, taking into consideration that we want to ensure a proximity service in the villages, especially with this new health unit model," stressed the Regional Secretary.

Luís Cabral said this protocol model has also been signed with the parishes of Relva and Covoada on São Miguel Island. The village of Maia will soon sign this protocol.

The Regional Secretary for Health called all Azorean villages to establish this type of protocol in order to provide health facilities with appropriate conditions.

"This is a partnership that should exist between villages and the Government of the Azores in order to provide the best conditions for the implementation of health centres as well for the patients who use these services," said Luís Cabral.