The Chambers of Faro and in Olhão, INEM and the National Maritime Authority will share the maintenance costs of the Ria Solidária boat, which provides medical assistance and evacuation of people on the Ria Formosa barrier islands. The protocol was signed today, March 14, and will be in effect for three years.
In practice, the Chambers of Faro and Olhão will allocate 7 euros each to finance the costs of the boat, which was owned by the Civil Government, while the entity still existed. As for INEM, it enters with the same amount.
The National Maritime Authority provides the personnel and continues to be responsible for operating the Ria Solidária, through the Salva-Vidas Station in Olhão, something it did before. However, instead of continuing to support 100% of the costs, it now has this help.
Ao Sul Informação, Cortes Lopes, commander of the Southern Maritime Zone, explained that the challenge for this protocol "came from the National Maritime Authority", but was "readily accepted" by the three entities in question.
As for the sharing of these costs, it is seen by Cortes Lopes as "a matter of justice" that allows "to improve the procedures" of this boat. "This is a public service for the population, in terms of providing relief," he said. According to data revealed by Cortes Lopes, the Ria Solidária carries out an average of 180 evacuations per year.
The signing of this protocol was attended by Rogério Bacalhau, president of the Chamber of Faro, António Pina, mayor of Olhão, Luís Alves Meira, president of INEM, and Vice-Admiral Sousa Pereira, general director of the Maritime Authority.
For the mayor from Faro, this is a protocol of "vital importance", since "the right to health must be granted to everyone".
António Pina, on the other hand, warned that medical assistance on the barrier islands was not being “sufficiently cared for”. The mayor of Olhão gave the example of the island of Armona, where "about 5 people are in the summer", but, if there is any need, "there is only one boat".
The municipalities of Faro and Olhão and also INEM have a deadline, until the end of this month of March, to provide the money. As for the future, Commander Cortes Lopes said that, after the three years of this protocol, "if there is interest, a new one is made, along the same lines."
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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