Ribbon cutting for the new mobile mammography unit of the “Caravan of prevention,” a long-running initiative by Komen Italia and the Agostino Gemelli Irccs University Hospital Foundation to safeguard the health of women. The mobile unit was given as a gift by ENAV, the Italian firm responsible for managing civil air traffic, and it will be furnished with the most recent 3D mammography technology with tomosynthesis. This will enable the program’s free diagnostic preventative actions to be expanded. Riccardo Masetti, the founder of Komen Italia, Daniela Terribile, the president of Komen Italia, Giovanni Exchange, the scientific director of the Agostino Gemelli Irccs University Hospital Foundation, Francesca Isgr, the president of Enav, and Paolo Simioni, the managing director of Enav were all present at today’s inauguration. Additionally, Marco Elefanti, the general director of the Agostino Gemelli Irccs
“This kind gift from ENAV has a twofold positive value for a nonprofit organization like ours,” says Riccardo Masetti, who is also the head of the Gemelli Breast Center. One the one hand, it demonstrates the appreciation that our daily efforts to safeguard the health of women have been able to produce; on the other hand, it will enable us to provide even more early diagnosis tests to women who particularly require them. Sincere appreciation from the Governing Council and all of the volunteers of Komen Italia to Enav for this act of respect and confidence.
The Prevention Caravan has so far spent 600 days promoting women’s health across 17 Italian regions, providing more than 50,000 free medical services, particularly to women who live in more precarious social and financial situations. Due to the crucial roles that women play in the family, workplace, and social spheres, protecting their health has a significant impact on the community as a whole. Due to this and other factors, Komen Italia has been investing an increasing amount of time, effort, and money into initiatives like the Caravan of Prevention to educate women and provide them with practical possibilities for free health protection for over twenty years.
The most common malignant neoplasm in women and, sporadically, in men are breast tumors (1 case in 100). Over 1.6 million new cases are reported globally each year, 56,000 of which are in the United States. Over 90% of breast cancer cases can be cured with less intrusive therapy when it is discovered at an early stage. But even now, a lot of times the diagnosis is made too late.
“Francesca Isgr, president of ENAV, emphasizes that the prevention and early diagnosis of carcinomas are essential components for ensuring any timely treatment for the benefit of the best conditions of female health and well-being for the entire community. As a woman, I can only express my sincere gratitude to all the Komen Italia and Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation staff members for their commitment. This campaign represents a paradigm of prevention and awareness not just for today’s women but also and above all for future generations”.
According to Paolo Simioni, CEO of Enav, “In our group, the protection of health is an absolute priority to be protected with passion and attention. We were immediately enthused about contributing to the cause that Komen Italia is pursuing. Such programs and projects are essential to raising public knowledge of prevention-related concerns. We acknowledge the tremendous devotion and selflessness of Komen Italia and the Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation in the battle against breast cancer “.
“According to Daniela Terribile, president of Komen Italia, Enav’s decision to provide Komen Italia with a new mobile unit that is completely technologically equipped marks yet another opportunity to broaden the scope of the prevention caravan’s work in partnership with the Gemelli. This project, which over time has come to have an increasingly precise meaning, has proven to be very helpful in reaching areas and realities where prevention does not exist or only does so very sporadically, providing on-the-spot, free prevention exams, as well as allowing a fruitful and synergistic collaboration with local health institutions for greater effectiveness of breast cancer prevention programs “.
Finally, Marco Elefanti, general director of the Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation, said: “Gemelli gladly supports Komen Italia in this well-established and productive activity of significant social value. A sincere thank you from Gemelli to ENAV for their assistance with the Caravan. The “fleet” of resources available for the promotion of women’s health has been strengthened as a result of the donation of this new breast preventive mobile unit, on which expert healthcare staff from our Foundation operate. This will make it possible to provide a larger public with free prevention activities to safeguard health, especially for the vulnerable female population who have more difficulties getting to medical facilities “. The first Health Promotion Day will be held in honor of the ENAV staff at the Via Salaria headquarters in Rome and will also utilize the mobile unit.