The Regional Secretary for Health stressed today that the focus on prevention is essential in the fight against diabetes, stressing that people should be aware that this disease "can be prevented."
 
Rui Luís spoke at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital on Terceira Island on the sidelines of an action that marked the World Diabetes Day. The government official stated that, under this "major strategy" to combat this disease, there is a series of actions included in the Regional Health Plan.
 
"It is something we will implement even further: the notion that prevention is fundamental," the government official said, adding that we intend to instil "the idea that citizens are responsible for their health and, as such, they must understand what they can do and cannot do."
 
The Regional Secretary pointed out the different stages of the disease during the action in which he participated. Under this initiative, the hospital presented a stand in the area of prevention, promoted screenings, carried out a demonstration of healthy eating habits and provided counselling to patients with diabetes.
 
Furthermore, Rui Luís stressed the important role that schools play in this fight, namely in early interventions for the screening of risk behaviours.
 
"With regard to school health, it is necessary to make a strong investment," the government official said, stressing that "children need to realise that, in this and other diseases, they have a key role to play" in the future.