The president of the Government of the Azores said today that the incidence of the Machado-Joseph disease in the archipelago gives special responsibilities and, consequently, it brings obligations, whether in the assistance plan to the nearly 90 people affected by the disease, whether in the support to the people who investigate it, developing a meritorious activity.

Carlos César, who received today, in audience, the director of the Neurology Service of the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital, João Vasconcelos - in a meeting in which also it was present the investigator Manuela Lima, of the University of the Azores - emphasized that, for that reason, the Regional Government will grant the support that was asked to it for the fulfilment, in Ponta Delgada, next April, of an international congress on the Machado-Joseph disease.

The above-mentioned congress, said the president of the Government, will help in these investigation tasks around the disease and with benefit for the patients.

“Being a prestigious investigation in the international plan and, simultaneously, usefulness for those who benefit from it, the support of the Regional Government is justified, having also in consideration the suitability of the promoters of this event”, he concluded.