egional Secretary for Health highlighted in Angra do Heroísmo, the reorganisation of the Civil Protection system carried out in the last year by the Regional Government, stressing that it intended to "reinforce the safety of populations and the disaster assistance capacity on all islands of the archipelago." 

In this regard, Teresa Machado Luciano mentioned the approval of the Legal Scheme on the Civil Protection System, which congregated dispersed legislation. Additionally, it adapted to the regional reality the Basic Civil Protection Law as well as the Regional Civil Protection Emergency Plan, the Regulation on the Integrated Civil Protection and Relief Operation System and the Regulation on the Immediate Life Support Service. 

The Regional Secretary spoke at the conference that marked the 40th anniversary of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA). On the occasion, she noted that the Government has sought, through SRPCBA, to invest in equipment and training for firefighters, the key partners of the system, namely with “better pay, better working conditions, more equipment and more training.” 

Teresa Machado Luciano also evoked the European 112 Day, which is marked today, urging the end of false calls as “they waste essential means to help the population.” She also stressed the importance of providing all the necessary information in 112 calls for the activation of adequate means. 

On the sidelines of the conference, the Regional Secretary told journalists that the Azores "are prepared" for the international public health emergency caused by the 2019-nCoV coronavirus. In this regard, she added that the standards of the Directorate-General for Health are being adapted to the Region almost simultaneously, emphasising that Island Health Units and Hospitals have emergency plans and that the situation is being monitored on a daily basis by a working group. 

The celebrations of the 40th anniversary of SRPCBA, held at the Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library and Regional Archive, featured speeches delivered by Álvaro Monjardino, former President of the Legislative Assembly, Manuel Soares, President of the Azores Fire Federation, and Ricardo Barros, former Vice-President of SRPCBA. 

This conference, moderated by the President of SRPCBA, Carlos Neves, recalled the history of SRPCBA, its evolution and the role of Civil Protection in implementing a culture of prevention and awareness in the archipelago of the Azores, a region prone to extreme phenomena. 

This is the first of a series of events that SRPCBA will hold throughout this year as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.