Every year in Italy
about 2200-2300 children between the ages of 0 and 18 get cancer.
Their therapeutic path is often long with the need for frequent hospitalizations.
On the occasion of the 28th World Teachers' Day, on 5 October, the
Foundation for Pediatric Oncology and the Association of Pediatric Oncology Parents (AGOP),
in agreement with the Gemelli Polyclinic, promoted the Forum on the theme of "
School in the Hospital"
.
“Getting cancer is a devastating event that changes the lives and habits of these children.
The presence of teachers in the ward is a great resource for maintaining a normal bond with the outside world ”said
Antonio Ruggiero,
president of the Foundation for Pediatric Oncology and director of Pediatric Oncology at the Gemelli Polyclinic.
The event wanted to underline the value of the school in the hospital, the role of teachers and their daily challenges to guarantee the right to education for patients but above all to contribute to the recovery of their psycho-physical balance.
“School is a model of inclusion that our Association has always supported.
Tullio Solenghi
also spoke as a special guest at the event
: “Knowing this reality, the suffering of these children and the strength of their parents was, and is, a great enrichment for me”.
Italy, compared to the average of other European countries, has the largest number of hospital sections, underlining the attention that the Ministry of Education reserves for these sick children.
The event took place at the Salone Margherita in Rome with the participation of various exponents from the world of school, journalism and entertainment.
It then ended with a concert by the Orchestra of the European Philharmonic Academy.