The President of the Government announced on São Jorge that regional elderly homes and day centres will provide another 220 vacancies. This measure falls under the Government's decision to strengthen the network of social support services in the archipelago.

"I can announce that the Regional Public Works Charter includes the construction and rehabilitation of seven day centres in many other places in the archipelago, thus giving effect to the programme of the XI Regional Government of the Azores, with special emphasis on the expansion of social support services," said Vasco Cordeiro.

In his speech delivered at the opening of the Day Centre of João Inácio de Sousa Nursing Home, the President of the Government said that, with these new investments, the Network of Day Centres will have provide another 160 vacancies in the villages of São Sebastião, Maia, Bretanha, Cinco Ribeiras, Doze Ribeiras, Flamengos and Vila Franca do Campo.

In addition to the investments in day centres, the support network for the elderly will also provide another 60 vacancies, half of which are the result of the homes that are being built by the "Santa Casa Misericórdia" of São Sebastião and Altares. The remaining 30 vacancies will be provided under the rehabilitation and expansion works of Luís Soares de Sousa Home, D. Pedro V Home, Jesus Maria José Shelter and the homes of "Casa do Divino Espírito Santo" in Maia, Lajes do Pico, Santa Cruz das Flores and Corvo.

"The Government of the Azores works on the assumption that public entities must support, within the reach of their powers and resources, those who have helped their land, through their effort and hard work," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government highlighted the more than 250 institutions throughout the archipelago that have established partnerships with the Government. According to him, they "embody and provide this response, helping those who are in a more fragile situation."

In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro praised the availability of these institutions as well as of their employees and administration boards. They have demonstrated their "willingness towards the alliance of good will and solidarity that is forged with the Government on a daily basis" to overcome the challenges the Azores face.

"In order to get an accurate idea of the path we have followed and its outcome, it is enough to say that there were only nine Day Centres in the Azores in 2004. Today, we have 18 centres with an installed capacity for 400 elderly," noted Vasco Cordeiro.

With regard to São Jorge, the President of the Government reminded that, just less than a year ago, the island did not have any social response of this kind, a gap that was quickly filled by the Regional Government.

"In June, we opened the first Day Centre in the village of Topo, whose project was included in the recovery of 'Casa dos Tiagos,' and the Day Centre of Santa Catarina Institute in Urzelina in October.