Bambino Gesù: the center for pediatric palliative care opens near the sea

The center opens today in Passoscuro, in Fiumicino’s municipality. It’s the first in Lazio Region and the largest in Italy for available places. Angelini Foundation among donors.

With 20 housing modules already activated and 10 more under construction, the largest Pediatric Palliative Care Center in Italy, built by the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome, opens in Passoscuro, in the municipality of Fiumicino. It’s one of his kind facility in the Lazio Region, where it’s estimated around 1,000 children with serious illnesses, requiring palliative care.

A 5-storey building a few steps from the sea and surrounded by greenery, renovated thanks donors contribution, including Fondazione Angelini, Andreotti & Brusone Philanthropy Fund, Fondazione Giulio e Giovanna Sacchetti, Duchess Maria Luisa Magistrati Gaetani D'Aragona.

“We took another important step in assisting the most fragile children,” said Bambino Gesù President, Mariella Enoc. “The Center aims to be a welcoming space, similar to a large house, in which to accompany young patients or help their families to assist them in the best possible way. Because it is always possible to heal, as Pope Francis says, even when it is not possible to heal”.

The opening ceremony took place today in the presence of State of Holy See Secretary, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Lazio Region President, Nicola Zingaretti, Fiumicino mayor, Esterino Montino and main donors.

The director of Health Planning of the Ministry of Health, Andrea Urbani, the Councilor for Health and Social-Health Integration of Lazio Region, Alessio D'Amato, the director of the Emergency, Acceptance and General Pediatrics Department of Bambino Gesù, Alberto Villani and the head of the Pediatric Palliative Care Center, Michele Salata among the contributions about the palliative cares.

In Italy there are about 35,000 minors - 1,000 in the Lazio Region alone - who cannot return home immediately after hospitalization because they need highly specialized assistance or need their parents to get all the necessary skills to take care of them. Even in the home care phase, residential hospitalization can be a temporary solution able to provide the family with a period of relief or to allow a revision of the care plan that requires more intense monitoring.

Thea Paola Angelini and Sergio Marullo di Condojanni, respectively Fondazione Angelini vice president and director commented: “Attention to most fragile people is one of Fondazione Angelini guiding principles, which has always been committed supporting communities and territories where the Angelini Group is present. We are glad to be part in making this project a reality, where youngest patients and their families can be welcomed in a beautiful and protected environment as the Palliative Care Center of the Bambino Gesù Hospital”.