The Regional Secretary for Health challenged in Angra do Heroísmo young nursing students to promote healthy lifestyles and to embody them in their professional lives.

 Speaking at the opening week of training on the prevention of risk behaviours, Rui Luís stressed that "it is time to have a profound and effective policy for prevention and promotion of healthy living habits."

 In his speech, Rui Luís quoted the Constitution to remember that health is a right but also a duty.

 "It is essential to have the notion that preventing is better than the cure. Although we have no results in the short-term, we will have good results in the future with a good prevention policy," said the government official.

 The Regional Secretary for Health recalled that the Azores are one of the regions with the worst rates regarding the consumption of licit and illicit substances, pointing out to the fact that young people may suffer from mental problems when cannot control consumption habits.

 The Regional Secretary also stressed the importance of primary health care as fundamental in preventing and improving health. In this context, he urged students to embark on this area.

 The training course on risk behaviour runs until Friday at the University of the Azores under the actions to promote health and citizenship promoted by "Casa do Povo" of Santa Bárbara and the Health School.

 The topics under debate include substances, their effects and legal framework, intervention models in recreational settings, affective and sexual behaviours, risks and management simulation of conflicts, and crisis situations.