The Regional Director for Health revealed today that smoking cessation consultations are available in all Island Health Units of the archipelago from July 1.
 
João Soares pointed out that, with this measure, the Government will contribute to the reduction of tobacco consumption, since there is a "fairly substantial prevalence of Azoreans who smoke."
 
The Regional Director spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the smoking cessation clinic of Faial Island Health Unit. The government official stated that the Government of the Azores is aware of this reality and has taken "a number of measures to reduce this prevalence." In this regard, he added that the Regional Health Plan 2014-2020 includes "the fight against tobacco and several programmes directed to school audiences," in addition to "media campaigns" carried out by the Azores Oncology Centre.
 
João Soares also mentioned the positive developments in terms of smoking cessation consultations in the archipelago. These consultations have covered a total of 5,780 people since 2008.
 
With the visit to Faial Island Health Unit, one of the units that already provides these consultations for more years, and to São Miguel Island Health Unit, the Regional Director for Health also intended to "show his example" in the fight against tobacco.
 
Since 2008, the Faial Health Unit has already provided seven smoking cessation consultation, having registered an annual maximum of 146 consultations in 2013.