VRSA honors healthcare professionals and launches new informational microsite

The Main Hall of the Vila Real de Santo António City Council hosted a ceremony this Thursday honoring healthcare professionals and non-clinical staff working in the municipality's functional units. The event also included the presentation of the new Health Microsite, a digital platform created to enhance communication and access to information in the local healthcare sector.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of VRSA, Álvaro Araújo; the Councilor responsible for Administrative Modernization, Álvaro Leal; and nurse Patrícia Jerónimo, representing the Municipal Health Office. Also present were Dr. Dorinda Santos, representing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Algarve Local Health Unit, Dr. Tiago Botelho; and Dr. Catarina Gouveia, representing the Clinical Director for Primary Health Care, Dr. Rubina Correia.

The opening session was led by coach Manuel Manero, who led a presentation focusing on the importance of motivation, emotional leadership, and teamwork in the public health sector.

This was followed by the official presentation of the new Health Microsite – Municipal Health Office, a digital outreach tool developed by the municipality's Communications and Promotion Subdivision in collaboration with the Municipal Health Office. The microsite will gather up-to-date information on health projects, services, campaigns, and resources in the municipality, facilitating the population's access to useful and reliable information about local health.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of honorable mentions to several local health teams, in public recognition of their ongoing, compassionate, and specialized work for the community.

The following entities and health teams in the municipality were distinguished: the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD - VRSA), the Esteva Family Health Unit, the Levante Family Health Unit, the Shared Assistance Resources Unit (URAP), the VRSA Public Health Unit, the Community Care Unit (UCC), the ACeS III - Sotavento Management Support Unit (VRSA Unit), the Community Palliative Care Support Team, the VRSA Community Psychiatry Team and the ACeS Sotavento Citizen's Office.

The distinctions were received, on behalf of their respective teams, by Dr. Sandra Caixerinho (ICAD - VRSA), Dr. Lívia Dari (USF Esteva), Dr. Ricardo Cordeiro (USF Levante), Dr. Luís Abobeleira (URAP), Dr. Halyna Karuna (Public Health Unit), Nurse Lígia Ferreira (UCC), Dr. Suzel Faustino (Management Support Unit - ACeS III), Dr. Fátima Teixeira (Palliative Care Team), Dr. Manuela Gonçalves (Citizen's Office) and Dr. Catarina Gouveia, who received the distinction on behalf of the VRSA Psychiatry Team.

During his speech, Mayor Álvaro Araújo emphasized that "these distinctions are awarded to entire teams, who daily provide close care with rigor, humanity, and dedication," adding that "the Municipality publicly recognizes the fundamental role that these structures play in the territory, even in highly demanding and complex contexts."

The new municipal health digital platform will soon be available to the public and aims to strengthen proximity to citizens, giving greater visibility to local health responses.