Nave della Salute 2024
On April 20, 2024, the first ship that combines prevention and early diagnosis left in Ancona.
WITH A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND REGULAR CHECKS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAVE 1 MILLION LIVES A YEAR THE FIRST 'HEALTH SHIP' SETS SAIL WITH CLINICS FOR FREE CHECK-UPS ON BOARD.
It is possible to save 1 million lives a year by regularly undergoing check-ups and maintaining healthy lifestyles. This emerged from a Eurostat study showing the impact of unhealthy habits and missed medical visits on the most serious pathologies. To promote primary and secondary prevention activities and to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, at 5 pm on Saturday, April 20th, the AF MIA departed from the port of Ancona, the first Health Ship, where 274 free consultations were conducted for passengers in just 4 hours. For the first time, travelers, during the waiting time for departure and during the crossing to their destination, met specialists in oncological genetics and senology (with Prof. Rossana Berardi and Dr. Francesca Rossi), dermatology (with Prof. Anna Campanati), vascular medicine (with Drs. Roberto Catalini and Alessandro Saturni), ophthalmology (with Drs. Carlo Sprovieri and Paolo Principi), and clinical nutrition (with Drs. Marina Taus and Loriana Finocchiaro and Dr. Marco Ferrara).
The ship, docked Sunday morning at the port of Durres, Albania, hosted 400 people who benefited from this extraordinary service devised by One Healthon, the first project implemented in Italy with the aim of raising awareness among citizens, institutions, doctors, and the media about the need to promote the well-being of the planet.
"Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to defeating most diseases," says Rossana Berardi, President of the One Health Foundation and Full Professor of Medical Oncology at the Polytechnic University of the Marche. "Unfortunately, the importance of healthy lifestyles, supported by proper nutrition and daily exercise, is often underestimated. This is compounded by a lack of awareness of how regular check-ups can help detect diseases in the early stages when they can still be treated quickly and without serious consequences. This applies to oncology, cardiology, rheumatology, and many other branches of medicine. We started in March 2023 by presenting the One Healthon project to the Ministry of Health, and since then, we have provided over 4500 free consultations and promoted the importance of health for both humans and the planet through social media, webinars, and events with the population. With the Health Ship, we want to offer those who travel for family or work reasons and have a moment of 'waiting' available, the opportunity to think about their well-being, through meetings with specialists who can support them in preventing or diagnosing the most common diseases early. We hope this is a pilot project that can guide us towards the implementation of other similar initiatives."
"The Health Ship is a project that helps us remember the link between people's health and that of the planet, especially our seas," adds Roberto Danovaro, Ecologist at the Polytechnic University of the Marche and President of the WWF Scientific Committee. "Pollution, harmful fishing practices for habitats, improper waste disposal, and excessive use of plastic are irreversibly deteriorating the waters worldwide and can compromise our health. It is important to immediately commit to restoring the well-being of seas and oceans because we can all benefit from it, even through nutrition, one of the main elements of a healthy lifestyle."
"We are honored to host a socially valuable initiative within the port environment, which also involves stakeholders who are protagonists of maritime economy," says Vincenzo Garofalo, President of the Central Adriatic Sea Port Authority. "We firmly believe that the port of Ancona is a reference point for the community, as demonstrated by the presence of this event, which further strengthens the bond between the city and its port."
"I've been a shipowner for many years, but even before that, I am the son of a doctor," comments Alberto Rossi, Shipowner of the Health Ship. "When it comes to initiatives concerning health, especially the health of our territory, which is fortunate to have one of the most efficient healthcare systems in Italy, my family, my companies, and I are always ready to do our part. Professor Berardi presented us with the One Healthon program a few months ago, which is being joined by the most important names in Italian medicine. It's a prevention concept that my Board of Directors at Adria Ferries and I hope will spread and find its rightful place throughout the national territory, both publicly and privately. AF MIA is our latest addition, and we are proud and honored to host such an initiative. We would have liked to do more by painting it pink, but perhaps next time."
"This exceptional initiative is the latest in a long series that, with One Healthon, has involved healthcare professionals, volunteer and patient associations, media, and institutions," concludes Mauro Boldrini, Communications Director of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) and Vice President of the One Health Foundation. "We strongly believe that a change in course is possible to restore our planet to optimal conditions and thus also the health of those who inhabit it, but achieving this result requires the commitment of everyone, each with their own strengths and capabilities. The best form of prevention occurs by meeting people and informing them of the benefits they can obtain with healthy lifestyles and regular check-ups. That's what we'll do on the ship and what we hope to continue doing in the future with equally innovative projects."
