A delegation of Italian doctors came to Chile to share their experience in the battle against their country’s covid-19.
In a public-private collaboration, the #ItaliaconChile initiative specified the arrival in the country of a delegation of the medical experts in the treatment of complex patients, who will join in the next few days to work with intensive care specialists from the Hospital Clinico de la U. de Chile (HCUCH) to combat COVID-19.
This collaboration occurs in the context of humanitarian support between the two countries, promoted by the Italian Embassy, the university health campus and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INMI) Rome, in collaboration with the Giovanni XXIII hospitals in Bergamo and Rosiglioni Impianti from Rome, and was privately sponsored.
The delegation, made up of five doctors and two nurses It was received virtually by authorities from the Government of Chile and Italy, from the University of Chile, the private sector and members of the Italian community in the country, such as the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Government, Jaime Bellolio; the undersecretary of Foreign Relations, Raúl Fernández; the Italian ambassador, Mauro Battocchi and the rector of the University of Chile, Ennio Vivaldi.
From most affected areas
Upon arrival in the country, Elisa Nanino, an expert geriatrician in prevention and one of the doctors in the delegation commented that her experience in Italy was in Lombardy, one of the regions most affected by the pandemic.
“I spent two months there helping my colleagues And I’m going to share that experience here with my Chilean colleagues. It will surely be an extraordinary experience for both countries, because there is nothing better than finding another culture and another health system and for this reason I am very happy to be here and I really want to start working, “said Elisa Nanino.
While the infectologist of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, Laura Vicenzi, stressed that “it is a great privilege to be in Chile and I hope to be able to deliver my contribution, because everything what is happening now in Chile happened in Italy a few months ago. As we have already gone through this experience, I hope I can be useful to colleagues and Chileans. “
The Italian delegation is made up of five doctors specialized in anesthesiology, infectology and geriatrics, and two nurses who are experts in the treatment of complex patients.
Six of the professionals come from the prominent National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome, therefore, their knowledge regarding the evolution of the pandemic in Italy will be very relevant, sharing experiences regarding good practices for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, unconfinement plans, hospital reconversion for postponed selective surgeries, care of non-infected patients, possible outbreaks and concern for the mental health of both patients and medical personnel.
During their stay in the country, professionals will also be able to receive feedback on the experience of the Chilean medical teams in the treatment of the virus and contribute their knowledge about the phases of the pandemic, medical work in each of them, with an emphasis, for example, on different types of patients and diseases, as well as on the care and measures necessary to prevent outbreaks.
The initiative #ItaliaconChile It will also add 18 mechanical ventilators to be added to the health network, of which twelve will be destined for the Clinical Hospital of the U. de Chile and six for the healthcare networks of the Ministry of Health.
Welcome
In the virtual welcome, the Minister Secretary General of the Government, Jaime BellolioHe expressed his gratitude to all the participants in this initiative, to the ambassador and sponsors, and to the scientific committee for their work, willingness and solidarity with the Chilean people.
He Ambassador of Italy, Mauro Battocchi He stressed that “during the first terrible days, the Italians were able to appreciate the solidarity of several countries, which came to our aid with generosity. Today, when the pandemic in Italy seems to be under control, even if careful monitoring continues, our country wants to share with friendly countries the lessons it has learned and the good practices it has developed. We believe that even a pandemic like this should be an opportunity for brotherhood and solidarity. All the more reason with Chile, with which we have a relationship of deep friendship and closeness ”.
Meanwhile, for the rector of the University of Chile, Ennio Vivaldi, “This delegation has the courage to have the experience of having lived through situations in which one learns, especially in medicine, and the knowledge of how Italy faced the different phases of the pandemic.”
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