The Regional Secretary for Health praised in Ponta Delgada the “broad solidarity movement that has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the commitment of all firefighters, health professionals and security forces who are io the frontline of this fight."
Teresa Machado Luciano spoke at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital during the delivery ceremony of 17 intubation shields to the Region by the Portuguese Medical Association. On the occasion, she stressed the “solidarity among professionals, especially at a particularly challenging moment for all, as evidenced by the "All by Those Who Care" (Todos Por Quem Cuida) movement. This is an initiative promoted by the Portuguese Medical Association and the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society, with the support of the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Industry Association and other institutions.”
As part of this initiative, which aims to bring differentiating equipment to protect health professionals and patients throughout the country, 17 intubation shields were delivered to the Autonomous Region of the Azores: 10 to Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (São Miguel) four to Santo Espírito Hospital (Terceira), and three to Horta Hospital (Faial).
"The intubation shields contribute to reducing the risk of contagion with the novel coronavirus and other infectious agents during procedures where is a high risk of aerosol production, such as intubation and extubation of patients," said the Secretary for Health.
Teresa Machado Luciano stressed that “personal protective equipment is not an issue in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, seeing that an investment of 9.3 million Euros was made and, at the moment, the Region is prepared with equipment that is monitored on a daily basis so that we always have a guaranteed six-month stock."
The government official also recalled that the Region “received about hospital equipment worth 624 thousand Euros, thanks to spontaneous solidarity movements from citizens and different organisations to help facing the COVID-19 pandemic.”
"All donations are very important and demonstrate the appreciation and recognition of the Azorean population to the professionals "what the forefront of this fight, whether they be health professionals, civil protection or security forces," said the government official.
The intubation shields delivered today, which act as a physical barrier between the patient and the professionals, allow to maintain the visibility of the procedure during its execution and are reusable.
However, the use of these always requires the use of other personal protective equipment and the implementation of the hygiene measures already known.