Rui Luís assures that assistance the population was never in question at Angra do Heroísmo Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters
The Regional Secretary assured today that the provision of assistance to the population on Terceira was never been in question due to disagreements with the Angra do Heroísmo Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters.
"We have the sufficient number of ambulances for this purpose and the measures adopted will solve the situation," said Rui Luís, after being heard at the General Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly.
The Secretary for Health pointed out that the recommendations to the Humanitarian Association were issued on December 15, after a period of meetings in which all parties, including professional and volunteer firefighters, members of the Fire Department and of the Association's Board, were heard in order to reach an understanding.
Rui Luís expressed his belief that the Angra do Heroísmo Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters will comply with the recommendations.
This humanitarian association no longer has two ambulances during night-time. It now has one ambulance and its respective crew due to the departure of some volunteers for alleged disagreements.
In this regard, the Regional Secretary for Health announced this week the entry into operation of a second ambulance at the Angra do Heroísmo Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters for the night-time period.
"On the part of the President of the Association, he has already assured that the situation will be duly solved once the institution starts complying with the recommendations issued by the Regional Government," said Rui Luís.
During this hearing at the Parliamentary Committee, the President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service recalled that the guidelines of the World Health Organisation indicate a ratio of one ambulance per 25,000 people as being a "Good" level. In this context, the assistance to the population on Terceira Island is assured by three ambulances, achieving this ratio in the night service with the support of Praia da Vitória Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters.
Rui Luís considered that, at this stage, "there is no need to carry out any inspection."
"If the recommendations are fulfilled, as we wish, the situation will be solved. If they are not, we will take whatever measures we deem necessary," added the government official.
The Regional Secretary emphasised, on the other hand, that there is no need to clarify the role of volunteer firefighters.
"All associations have professional and volunteer firefighters in their brigades. It is a situation that usually works," the government official said, adding that "volunteering has always been the basis of firefighting."