Rome, 24 October 2024
The Frecciarosa stops in Rome at the San Lorenzo railway station. The 14th edition of the initiative promoted by IncontraDonna and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane arrives in the capital. Thanks to Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group's Logistics Business Unit and the ASL Roma1, a mobile unit and health personnel will be present on 24 October to perform various services free of charge. Specifically, the following services will be available: Pap test/HPV test (25 to 64 years old and 30 to 64 years old, respectively, resident in the ASL Roma 1 area), HPV vaccination (for boys and girls in the 11 to 26 age bracket without distinction of residence or domicile), mammography (women aged 45 to 74 years old, resident in the ASL Roma 1 area), and colon-rectum kit delivery (men and women aged 50 to 74 years old). During the day, volunteers from the IncontraDonna Foundation will distribute the 'Health Vademecum' information booklet. In addition, it will be possible to access the screening booking service for the entire Lazio region, and awareness-raising activities on active prevention campaigns will be carried out. The initiative aims to increasingly involve younger age groups, and to create and nurture a culture of prevention. This is why students from the nearby La Sapienza University, Scalo San Lorenzo campus, were invited. Frecciarosa 2024 is the breast cancer prevention campaign promoted by the IncontraDonna Foundation and FS Group. It is supported by the Ministry of Health, Scientific Societies and Institutions, and provides consultations on board High-speed, Intercity and Regional trains for the entire month of October.
'Promoting cancer prevention for the community is fundamental,' adds Prof. Adriana Bonifacino, Chairwoman of the IncontraDonna Foundation. Forty percent of cancer diseases could be avoided by modifying risk factors, improving lifestyle, encouraging vaccinations and supporting screening programmes. Europe is asking us to reach an adherence rate of 90% of the target population for cancer screening and for HPV vaccination by 2030, as stated in 'Europe's Beating Cancer Plan'. In Italy, we are still far from these goals. As the Third Sector, we must strive to help improve adherence rates, by being active on several fronts, for instance, by insisting on changing the way mammography screening is prompted and performed in line with women's current needs, but also by promoting primary and secondary prevention with campaigns such as this one. After last year's success, we have decided to reintroduce an 'off-board' stage to reach people of different age groups, by offering health services, free of charge, for the benefit of the community".
'I have been following and supporting the Frecciarosa project for years, because prevention is an act of love towards ourselves and those around us. It is a way of reminding ourselves that health is a priority and that together we can and must really make a difference,' said Sabrina De Filippis, Managing Director of Mercitalia Logistics. 'We are thrilled and honoured to be able to make the Scalo San Lorenzo spaces available and actively contribute to the cause. If even one person benefits from it, it will be worth it for us as Hub and as FS Group. The Lazio Region is promoting screening programmes by carrying out capillary awareness campaigns and many events throughout the territory - commented Giuseppe Quintavalle, Extraordinary Commissioner of ASL Roma 1 - so we could not miss this important appointment in which, in addition to the multiscreening truck, we complete the offer with HPV vaccinations. It is crucial to be in the places where people live, to make everyone understand the importance of early diagnosis. I therefore would like to thank the IncontraDonna Foundation, the FS Group and all the partners of the initiative for this extraordinary synergy.'