This morning, at Villa Quartara, the headquarters of the newly established Gaslini Academy, a significant agreement was signed between the IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, represented by General Director Renato Botti, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), led by Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi. The collaboration marks a key milestone in advancing international cooperation in maternal-child and pediatric health. The event was attended by representatives from key civil society organizations that partner with Gaslini Hospital, including NGOs such as POBIC, Aispo, Una Voce per Padre Pio, and Music for Peace.
A Long-Term Partnership for Sustainable Development
“The partnership with Gaslini Hospital reaffirms the commitment of Italian Cooperation to promoting equitable and universal access to healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable populations,” stated Marco Rusconi, AICS Director. He highlighted the alignment of this agreement with the Mattei Plan, under which Gaslini is already involved in a telemedicine project in Morocco.
Rusconi added: “This new agreement goes beyond knowledge exchange; it embodies a long-term project aimed at strengthening local capacities and ensuring the sustainable development of healthcare systems in partner countries, starting with Niger and Burkina Faso, which are priority nations in Italy’s new strategy for Africa.”
Gaslini Academy’s President and General Director of the institute, Renato Botti, emphasized: “This agreement reinforces our mission to transfer expertise and know-how to the healthcare systems of developing countries. With a structured collaboration with AICS, we aim to ensure high-quality pediatric care wherever it is needed. Our focus is on capacity building and training healthcare personnel to enhance pediatric care quality, clinical outcomes, and patient safety.”
The agreement significantly expands the scope of cooperation between AICS and Gaslini Hospital. It introduces innovative programs such as distance learning through webinars and teleconsultation, alongside the development of context-adapted protocols.
The partnership will be implemented through a tailored approach, including:
- On-the-job training programs in beneficiary countries.
- Internships at Gaslini Hospital in Genoa.
- Capacity-building activities designed to meet the specific needs of local communities, particularly in Burkina Faso and Niger, where operational projects are already underway.
In Niger, after an exploratory mission, foundational steps have been taken to collaborate with the “Issaka Gazobi” Pediatric Hospital in Niamey. The project includes personalized training, strengthening of healthcare facilities and local capabilities, and the provision of teleconsultation and telemedicine services.
This collaboration underscores the shared vision of Gaslini Hospital and AICS to enhance global health equity and sustainability, starting with Africa’s most pressing needs.
