The Regional Government, which ended today the statutory visit to São Jorge, has defined specific support for this island in different sectors, with a view to improving the quality of life of the population and leveraging the ongoing economic, social and environmental development.
 
At the presentation of the press release from the Council of the Government, the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs mentioned the replacement of the X-ray equipment of Calheta and Velas health centres, an overall investment of about 16 thousand Euros. He also added that a dentist's chair and physiotherapy equipment will be acquired for Calheta Health Centre, representing an investment of 41 thousand Euros.
 
"With this new equipment, the São Jorge Health Unit reinforces its response capacity in these areas, ensuring a better use of the space in view of the interventions and improvements made in Calheta Health Centre building. These investments fall within the health proximity policies pursued to ensure equal access to health care," stressed Berto Messias.
 
The Regional Secretary also said the Government will purchase a continuous ambulatory electrocardiogram equipment to improve diagnosis in the area of Cardiology, an investment of 10 thousand Euros that will reinforce the response capacity of the Island Health Unit.
 
The Government has decided to support the João Inácio de Sousa Nursing Home, amounting to 100 thousand Euros, for the replacement of the building's roof and the expansion of the kitchen as well as the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Calheta with a view to the development of the Autonomous Homes for the elderly in that municipality.
 
Berto Messias also stressed the Government will prepare an action plan for the professional qualification and improvement of the qualifications of São Jorge islanders under the Valorizar Network. In turn, the Association for the Development of São Jorge Island will receive 88 thousand Euros as a financial compensation for the investments made in São Jorge Vocational Training School.
 
The Government has also authorised the signing of an ARAAL contract with the Town Council of Velas to carry out the works for the construction of an alternative access road to São Jorge Aerodrome in conjunction with the development of Areias road in the village of Santo Amaro.
 
"The investment has an estimated budget of 633 thousand Euros, of which 316 thousand Euros will be allocated by the Government," added the Regional Secretary.
 
The "São Jorge from Coast to Coast" event, which runs between April 27 and 28, will be supported by the Regional Government in the amount of six thousand Euros for the promotion of São Jorge Island and the Azores as a tourist destination of excellence for the practice nature-related activities. Moreover, the Government will allocate 10 thousand Euros to AtlânticFut Association for the organisation of the "AtlânticFut Cup 2019," a football tournament involving athletes in training levels to be held in Calhetas in late June.
 
As for the agricultural sector, the Government has authorised the necessary procedures for the conservation, maintenance and cleaning of 80 kilometres of rural and forest roads. It has also decided to allocated the amount of 200 thousand Euros to the Lourais Dairy Cooperative, São Jorge Farmers' Association and São Jorge Young Farmers' Association.
 
Berto Messias also stated that 10 training courses on the "Application of Plant Protection products" will be promoted for 180 participants. This overall investment of around 10 thousand Euros aims to raise awareness about the correct use of plant protection products and to disseminate the knowledge for their good use in obtaining healthy food, thus ensuring adequate protection of applicators and safeguarding public health.
 
The public tender has been also authorised for the second phase of the contract work for the construction of the Pau-Pique agricultural road in the Ribeira Seca/Norte Pequeno Agrarian Planning Perimeter, an estimated investment of 334 thousand Euros," said Berto Messias. According to him, the intervention covers an extension of about two kilometres and will reinforce the consolidation of infrastructures to support the agricultural development of São Jorge, in addition to improving the access to 20 farms in an area of 200 hectares.
 
The Government also plans to implement a system for the collection of waste resulting from agricultural activities in order to ensure an efficient collection of this waste and, consequently, the improvement of the quality of life and the environmental quality on São Jorge. Moreover, a series of measures will be implemented on this island for the integrated control of rodents.
 
The promotion of the Entrepreneurial Education programme - the Path to Success in Velas and Calheta Basic Education and Secondary Schools and in São Jorge Vocational Training School as well as the holding of a conference on the importance of defending Biodiversity, an initiative developed in partnership with the European Commission, were other decisions taken by the Regional Government.