Project #ItaliaconChilecontraelCovid, developed by the Italian Embassy in Santiago in partnership with the University of Chile and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” in Rome, kicks off this week. The initiative, made possible by important donations from two major companies of the Italian System in Chile, is also supported by the Pope John XXIII Hospital in Bergamo.
The project wants to testify the feelings of deep solidarity and fraternity that historically unite Italy and Chile, at a time when the latter is facing the very delicate phase of overcoming the peak of the pandemic. With this initiative, which can be summarized in compartir experiencias, salvar vidas, (sharing experiences, saving lives) Italy will make its closeness to the Chilean people feel as it goes through a difficult and complex situation.
The project foresees three moments. The first consists of the donation of eighteen mechanical ventilators, which will strengthen the capacity of the intensive care units of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile and the hospital network of the Chilean Ministry of Health. The second will involve the mission to Chile of a team of five doctors and two nurses – six of them from Spallanzani – who will provide Chilean colleagues with their extensive experience and knowledge in a wide range of COVID-related situations. The team will arrive in Santiago this Friday, where they will stay for three weeks to carry out support activities at the Clinical Hospital and the University of Chile. Among them, seminars, outreach sessions, observation activities, planning and training of COVID staff. Finally, the Pope John XXIII Hospital of Bergamo will carry out some videoconference and telemedicine sessions.
No country has so far provided such specialized and articulated assistance to Chile during the pandemic. For this reason, the project is receiving a lot of attention, and unanimous appreciation, from the Chilean media.
The report on the Embassy initiative by the Chilean broadcaster Tele13
