The Regional Secretary for Health announced in Angra do Heroísmo a new emergency system to support people with hearing and speech impairments. It will be based on the use of mobile phones, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA).
 
"This new service completes the network that we have and is in line with the Regional Government's policy for the permanent updating of systems and guaranteeing the safety of people," said Rui Luís.
 
In the event of an emergency, it allows users with special needs to request help by sending a text message.
 
"We have created a very simple service," the Regional Secretary said, adding that, "from their mobile phone, the people registered in this database can write a text message that will trigger the entire emergency and assistance process."
 
The contact is established in cases of health emergencies, accidents, fires, aggression or assault.
 
For safety reasons, the telephone number will not be publicly disclosed.
 
The use is made by prior registration. The contacts are directed to the Emergency and Attendance Room at the headquarters of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service.
 
Those who are interested should fill in an application form available on the SRPCBA website (www.prociv.azores.gov.pt) or on the Facebook page, and send to the email address [email protected].
 
This service was provided in partnership with the São Miguel Association of the Deaf; there are already registered users.
 
In the Azores, there are about 1,050 people with hearing loss or disability, of whom about 560 are profoundly deaf. However, the number of potential users is higher, taking into account temporary clinical situations.
 
"This system is also open to a group of people who, for some circumstance of their lives, cannot speak temporarily either due to a stroke or surgery," stressed Rui Luís.
 
The Regional Secretary also highlighted the good performance of the line 112, which won a European award in April for the recognition of the features of this emergency line.
 
"We are closing a gap in the regional emergency system, which was the possibility of people with hearing and speech impairment to quickly contact with this service," said Rui Luís, who was accompanied in the presentation of this new line by the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity, Andreia Cardoso.