Lagos youth present proposals to improve health and mobility.
The Youth Assembly met for its annual ordinary session to once again debate issues of interest to this age group and present proposals that could improve the life of the community as a whole.
Health, accessibility and the school structure were the topics in focus during the challenge launched by the Lagos Municipal Assembly to the benches of the municipality’s two school groups (Gil Eanes and Júlio Dantas). The 25 young students who make up the body of this ‘school of democracy and citizenship’ did their homework and, with the support of their teachers, prepared a series of presentations in which they showed their critical eye while also making suggestions for initiatives that they believe will meet the needs identified.
In terms of health, the creation of incentives for doctors to settle in the municipality, partnerships with university institutions, awareness campaigns, the implementation of telemedicine consultations, and more investment in oral health and mental health were some of the measures advocated by the Júlio Dantas School group. On the other hand, the Gil Eanes School bench emphasised the contribution of sport to physical health, pointing out the need for rehabilitation of some of the municipality’s sports facilities and, conversely, praising the added value of the municipality’s commitment to creating a network of pedestrian and cycling routes.
With regard to mental health, they identified the existing responses, both in a school context and in the context of the National Health Service and IPSS, as well as this network’s limitations and the areas where they believe it needs to be strengthened.
The elimination of obstacles on public roads that restrict the movement of citizens with reduced mobility, the adjustment of the timetables of the AONDA urban transport lines, the creation of cycle paths in the city and the proposal of an agreement between the municipalities of Lagos and Aljezur to offer more favourable conditions for the use of public transport for students who come to Lagos to attend secondary school, were some of the recommendations for the local authorities.
It was up to the mayor, representing the municipal executive, to answer the questions and provide information on the investments that the municipality has made, is making and plans to make in each of the areas discussed, specifically in terms of health, housing, education, water, mobility and the environment, highlighting, among others: the construction of affordable housing; investments in the area of water efficiency, including the installation of smart irrigation; the expansion of the Escola das Naus and the Tecnopolis School; the continuation of the enhancement of the seafront with the project for a walkway between Porto de Mós and Praia da Luz; the project to expand the Lagos Health Centre and the construction of the High-Resolution Outpatient Unit; the 2nd phase of the refurbishment of the Lagos fields. the phase of the rehabilitation of the municipality’s multi-sports playing fields, the improvements to be made to public transport, and the project for the 1st phase of the implementation of Lagos’ urban cycle path.
“Before we can change the world, we have to change our city” – it was with inspired and inspiring statements like this one, made by a member of the Youth Assembly, that the session ended, proving the willingness and interest of young people to assert their rights to active participation in the life of the community and in municipal decisions.
This innovative experiment, promoted by the municipality of Lagos, of young people’s participation in municipal life began in 2001 and has since been recognised for the quality and enthusiasm of the young people, who also take part in the Joint Solemn Session commemorating the 25th of April.
You can find more information about this initiative at:
https://am-lagos.pt/assembleia-da-juventude
