The President of the Regional Government opened today the renewal and expansion works of Luís Soares de Sousa Home in Ponta Delgada, an investment of about 2.3 million Euros intended to increase the Night Centre capacity to 46 vacancies.
 
On the occasion, Vasco Cordeiro emphasised the importance of the partnership signed between the Government and about 230 Private Social Security Institutions and "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" institutions working in several social support areas throughout the archipelago.
 
"It is not possible to think about solidarity and social support in the Autonomous Region of the Azores without taking into account that this system stems from a partnership between public and private entities," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In his speech, the President of the Government also praised the work of those who, in their daily lives, are responsible for the operation of the network of social solidarity in the Region. This is the case of more than four thousand people working at Private Social Solidarity Institutions and "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" institutions, who take care and support those who are the reason of being of the solidarity movement."
 
At the opening of the works of Luís Soares de Sousa Home, Vasco Cordeiro also highlighted the effort undertaken by the Government in the creation and renewal of infrastructures in the areas of childhood and youth, special needs, family and the elderly, among others.
 
"If we take into consideration the works planned for this legislative period, which is approximately halfway, including those already completed, ongoing or about to be launched, we are talking about an investment surpassing 55 million Euros." This amount adds up to an investment of 60 million Euros per year to support the operation of institutions, said the President of the Government.
 
"This does neither solves nor limits the attention and care we should have in this area," said Vasco Cordeiro. the President of the Government announced that about 100 formal caregivers from social support institutions on São Miguel Island will receive training this week in order to acquire more skills that will allow them to provide an increasingly qualified service.
 
"We will continue to do so, because we believe that this duty is something should be part of our responsibilities as a Region. This is something that must be present in what we assume to be our responsibility as a People, as Region and as a public entity to help creating the optimal conditions for those who have given much to our Region, through their work and activities, may live their lives with dignity, comfort and well-being," stressed the President of the Government.