Giuseppina Liuzzi, Head of the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy at the Spallanzani Hospital and Extraordinary Professor at UniCamillus, tells us about her professional and human experience on a mission for the Covid-19 emergency in Chile, thus sharing the main values of the University: humanitarian mission and internationalization
The Italian Embassy in Chile, the Hospital Clínico of the University of Chile and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INMI) “Lazzaro Spallanzani” in Rome, have come together to collaborate and respond to the multiple needs that the Chilean health sector is facing in this phase of the pandemic, through the #ItaliaConChile initiative, making available the clinical experience, commitment, work and expertise of the Italian healthcare professionals in the Covid-19 emergency.
For three weeks, my colleagues from INMI “L. Spallanzani” (two infectious disease specialists, two intensive care specialists and two nurses) and I shared our experience, supporting the specialists of the Hospital de la U. de Chile in medical work and in accompanying patients.
We met specialists from various sectors, with discussion and comparisons of clinical cases, therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. With our Chilean colleagues we shared our experiences regarding good practices for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, the reopening plans, the conversion of hospitals for delayed selective surgeries, the treatment of non-infected patients, the management of any outbreaks and concern for the mental health of both patients and medical staff.
Also for us Italians it was an extraordinary experience and the exchange not only professional but also human was very important: we relived with them the moments of great difficulty that we had to manage in Italy months ago. We made known our experience in order to provide them with all the information they need to manage the pandemic. The part dedicated to research was also very important, the projects underway at Spallanzani aroused much interest, with particular regard to the experimentation of the vaccine.
We have certainly laid the foundations for future scientific collaborations
that could see our countries involved. We have become somewhat of an
Ambassadors of Italian Assistance and Research in Chile.
Undoubtedly, the pandemic is a challenge that absolutely requires an effort of
international cooperation and collaboration is the key to addressing it in the
best possible way.
Giuseppina Liuzzi is an infectious disease specialist, Head of the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy at INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”.
She is Extraordinary Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the UniCamillus Degree Course in Obstetrics focusing on “Infections in Pregnancy”.
Engaged in assisting COVID patients since February 2020 with particular regard to pregnant women and also in the follow-up of post-covid pregnant women.
In 2008 and 2009 she carried out a Mission in Tanzania as an Infectious Diseases Specialist within the AID 8785 Project aimed at the treatment of HIV and prevention of perinatal transmission of HIV supported by the Italian Cooperation – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Women’s Health Ambassador – Ministry of Health (2018) and INMI and regional contact person for ONDA (National Observatory for Women’s Health).