Regional Secretary for Health announces initiatives to promote healthy living habits
The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the Government of the Azores intends to implement a series programmes and plans for prevention and promotion of healthy living habits next year.
"The first concerns the Regional Programme for the Promotion of Healthy Eating, a structured programme designed to change the regional statistics regarding obesity and overweight in coming years. It aims to effectively promote healthy eating habits that reduce some of the chronic diseases that plague the Azores," said Rui Luís.
This programme was one of the measures presented to the Regional Health Council, which met today for the second time this year to analyse strategic documents in this sector, including the Action Plan for Reducing Problems related to Alcohol Consumption.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Rui Luís stressed the importance of hearing industry partners in defining the policies to be implemented in the Region.
"We will hear advisers with the aim of developing a unique training plan in which all entities may collaborate," the government official stressed, adding that it intends to provide a series of training actions deemed necessary regional reality."
The Mid-Term Evaluation Report of the Regional Health Plan, the humanisation of health services and a reflection on the future of Cohesion Policy in the post-2020 period were other topics under discussion at this meeting.
The Regional Health Council is made up of 26 councillors, including representatives of professional associations, unions, patients' associations, "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" (social institution) and the University of the Azores.
Established in 2010, the Regional Health Council is responsible for making proposals and recommendations as well as for issuing opinions on matters related to health and the fight against dependencies, namely the approval of plans and programmes.