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Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
RRP target met with training provided for over 2,500 members of households receiving social support
RRP target met with training provided for over 2,500 members of households receiving social support
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Applications now open for latest Protective Seal edition
Applications now open for latest Protective Seal edition
March 20, 2026
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
March 19, 2026
RRP target met with training provided for over 2,500 members of households receiving social support
March 18, 2026
Applications now open for latest Protective Seal edition
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Azores Oncology Centre
Regional Directorate for Health
Regional Directorate for Social Solidarity
Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies
Regional Health Inspectorate
Institute for Social Security of the Azores
Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion
Nota de Imprensa
March 20, 2026
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
As part of World Oral Health Day, marked today, the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the Regional Government’s commitment to promoting oral health through specific measures that improve access, prevention and the quality of care delivered to the Azorean population. Among the investments made, special emphasis should be placed on the replacement of 12 dental chairs in Island Health centres, funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), covering five centres in São Miguel, three in Terceira, two in Faial, one in São Jorge and one in Flores, representing an overall investment of about €350,000. The Dental Voucher programme has also been showing encouraging results in improving access to care. Since its launch in October 2025, about 134 applications have been submitted, including 115 on the island of São Miguel and 19 on the island of São Jorge. This measure allows users to access treatment from participating providers, paying just 5% of the total cost, representing an important step towards promoting access to oral health across the Region. Regarding prevention, the Regional Secretary for Health highlighted the excellent results of the Oral Cancer Intervention Programme (PICCOA), coordinated by the Azores Oncology Centre, which aims to detect pre-malignant and malignant oral cavity lesions at an early stage. The programme includes annual screenings targeting specific age groups, consultations for referred cases and the distribution of the Individual Oral Health Report (BISO 40+), thereby strengthening surveillance and ensuring timely referral for specialist treatment. So far, the second phase of the PICCOA programme (2022–2026) has recorded 36,354 screenings, with a participation rate of 29.3%, surpassing the first phase results (2017–2021). World Oral Health Day is being marked with various initiatives at health centres across the island. In this regard, the São Miguel Island Health Unit will host informative exhibitions, health education sessions, screenings and activities for the school community. The activities also include initiatives at various health centres, promoting oral health literacy across different age groups. The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security emphasised that “this is a path that will continue to be consolidated, with a focus on prevention, universal access and the recognition of professionals, ensuring better standards of oral health for all Azoreans, whilst not forgetting the Government’s commitment to move forward, this year, with the creation of a career path for dentists within the Regional Health Service (SRS).”
March 20, 2026
Mónica Seidi highlights increased investment in oral health access and prevention
As part of World Oral Health Day, marked today, the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the Regional Government’s commitment to promoting oral health through specific measures that improve access, prevention and the quality of care delivered to the Azorean population. Among the investments made, special emphasis should be placed on the replacement of 12 dental chairs in Island Health centres, funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), covering five centres in São Miguel, three in Terceira, two in Faial, one in São Jorge and one in Flores, representing an overall investment of about €350,000. The Dental Voucher programme has also been showing encouraging results in improving access to care. Since its launch in October 2025, about 134 applications have been submitted, including 115 on the island of São Miguel and 19 on the island of São Jorge. This measure allows users to access treatment from participating providers, paying just 5% of the total cost, representing an important step towards promoting access to oral health across the Region. Regarding prevention, the Regional Secretary for Health highlighted the excellent results of the Oral Cancer Intervention Programme (PICCOA), coordinated by the Azores Oncology Centre, which aims to detect pre-malignant and malignant oral cavity lesions at an early stage. The programme includes annual screenings targeting specific age groups, consultations for referred cases and the distribution of the Individual Oral Health Report (BISO 40+), thereby strengthening surveillance and ensuring timely referral for specialist treatment. So far, the second phase of the PICCOA programme (2022–2026) has recorded 36,354 screenings, with a participation rate of 29.3%, surpassing the first phase results (2017–2021). World Oral Health Day is being marked with various initiatives at health centres across the island. In this regard, the São Miguel Island Health Unit will host informative exhibitions, health education sessions, screenings and activities for the school community. The activities also include initiatives at various health centres, promoting oral health literacy across different age groups. The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security emphasised that “this is a path that will continue to be consolidated, with a focus on prevention, universal access and the recognition of professionals, ensuring better standards of oral health for all Azoreans, whilst not forgetting the Government’s commitment to move forward, this year, with the creation of a career path for dentists within the Regional Health Service (SRS).”
Nota de Imprensa
March 19, 2026
RRP target met with training provided for over 2,500 members of households receiving social support
The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, visited the Valorizar Network premises in Angra do Heroísmo to deliver certificates of attendance for training courses aimed at members of households receiving social support. “Empowering people is one of the cornerstones of the Regional Government’s work. These training courses provide participants with tools that boost their independence, confidence and prospects for entering the workforce,” emphasised Mónica Seidi. The initiative marked the fulfilment of one of the targets set out in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for the Autonomous Region of the Azores: “Training for members of households receiving social support,” included in investment C03-i04-RAA. It was implemented by the Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion (DRPIIS), representing an overall investment of €1.25 million, funded under the RRP. As part of this initiative, a range of training programmes has been developed across various islands of the archipelago. These are still ongoing, largely due to the training role played by the Valorizar Network and the referral of participants by the Training and Employment Centre. The contents focused on areas such as the development of psychosocial skills, family and financial management, domestic literacy, career guidance, job-seeking techniques and the promotion of personal independence. So far, around 450 training sessions have been held, resulting in the issuance of nearly 4,000 certificates of attendance, covering more than 2,500 members of households benefitting from social support. In supporting and empowering these families, the approaches taken by the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA) and DRPIIS play a complementary role in promoting self-reliance and breaking the cycle of poverty, with DRPIIS focusing primarily on social and relational aspects, whilst ISSA focuses on economic and financial aspects. For the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, these initiatives represent “an essential tool for empowering families, boosting their independence and breaking cycles of social vulnerability,” whilst also helping to reduce the number of people receiving social benefits and lower the risk of poverty in the Region.
March 19, 2026
RRP target met with training provided for over 2,500 members of households receiving social support
The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, visited the Valorizar Network premises in Angra do Heroísmo to deliver certificates of attendance for training courses aimed at members of households receiving social support. “Empowering people is one of the cornerstones of the Regional Government’s work. These training courses provide participants with tools that boost their independence, confidence and prospects for entering the workforce,” emphasised Mónica Seidi. The initiative marked the fulfilment of one of the targets set out in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for the Autonomous Region of the Azores: “Training for members of households receiving social support,” included in investment C03-i04-RAA. It was implemented by the Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion (DRPIIS), representing an overall investment of €1.25 million, funded under the RRP. As part of this initiative, a range of training programmes has been developed across various islands of the archipelago. These are still ongoing, largely due to the training role played by the Valorizar Network and the referral of participants by the Training and Employment Centre. The contents focused on areas such as the development of psychosocial skills, family and financial management, domestic literacy, career guidance, job-seeking techniques and the promotion of personal independence. So far, around 450 training sessions have been held, resulting in the issuance of nearly 4,000 certificates of attendance, covering more than 2,500 members of households benefitting from social support. In supporting and empowering these families, the approaches taken by the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA) and DRPIIS play a complementary role in promoting self-reliance and breaking the cycle of poverty, with DRPIIS focusing primarily on social and relational aspects, whilst ISSA focuses on economic and financial aspects. For the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, these initiatives represent “an essential tool for empowering families, boosting their independence and breaking cycles of social vulnerability,” whilst also helping to reduce the number of people receiving social benefits and lower the risk of poverty in the Region.