The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity reiterated that the efforts to combat poverty in the archipelago are primarily based on the development and implementation of structural and preventive measures in the areas of employment, education, health and social solidarity.
 
Andreia Cardoso spoke Friday at a press conference, following the publication of indicators from the National Statistics Institute regarding the risk of poverty. On the occasion, she stressed that the Regional Government defined earlier this year the Regional Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion 2018-2028, already foreseen in the Programme of the Government. This innovative strategy at national level awards priority status to an intervention based on a series of structural and cross-cutting policies that seek to coordinate the action of various governmental departments, local authorities, cultural and sports associations and social solidarity institutions in a fight that must mobilise everyone.
 
The Regional Secretary highlighted that, for the first time, regional and annual data are available, which also contribute to monitoring the evolution of poverty levels in the Region, thereby meeting one of the strategic priorities of the Regional Government for this area. It involves the creation of better conditions for an in-depth knowledge on the phenomenon and the subsequent adjustment of policies in the most diverse areas by different economic and social agents.
 
"In a Region where non-monetary income is still very substantial," stated Andreia Cardoso. According to her, one should note that the recently-released figures do not reflect "other sources of income, namely wages in kind or self-consumption."
 
"Lower tuition fees at day-care centres, rental incentives, distribution of the fish caught among fishers, affordable school meals or lower health insurance rates" are some examples, added the government official.
 
However, the Regional Secretariat emphasised that the approach should be based on a perspective limited to improving to available income. In fact, it should also ensure and safeguard the well-being and quality of life of the Azorean population by reinforcing measures in areas such as health, education or professional qualification. They are regarded by the Regional Government as necessary tools to break with the intergenerational reproduction of poverty.
 
One should recall that the 1st Biennial Plan to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion 2018-2019 is in force and about that 60% of the measures planned for the biennium are already in progresso.