Factor J keeps schools in constant contact with experts to learn about the social dimension of health and the responsibility of prevention measures for the unforeseeable mutations of Covid-19.
From HIV to Covid-19, the students are learning about the importance of taking care of themselves and others as an act of social responsibility. Precocious diagnoses, prevention and vaccination will be discussed by Infectious diseases expert Massimo Galli with over one thousand high school students in Italy. The initiative has the patronage of the Lombardy Region and is promoted as part of Project “Factor J” by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Janssen Italia. The project aims to educate over one hundred thousand young men and women to inclusion, empathy and respect towards individuals in suffering and affected by diseases. In the cover story, the testimony of a young researcher from Mantua, Sara De Biasi.
During the lockdown, the young discovered first-hand that health is also a social, not just a personal factor. From AIDS to Covid-19, the history of epidemics has taught us how irresponsible behaviour, as well as prejudice and diffidence, can have a devastating effect on individuals and society. Think about this: the WHO has included scepticism for vaccination amongst the 10 global health threats. What role can the new generations play?
At times, confused and distorted information accompanies general diffidence about science and scientific and technological progress. Precocious diagnoses, prevention and vaccination were discussed by Infectious diseases expert Massimo Galli, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Milan Luigi Sacco Hospital, with over one thousand high school students in Italy. Why are the variants of Covid-19 so insidious? Can the quantity of vaccine doses and the speed with which they are administered modify the future scenario of the pandemic? Professor Massimo Galli answered the students’ questions very clearly, pointing out that a key role for the future scenarios will be played by the virus variants and the speed of the vaccination drive.
The Growing Up during the Emergency live event is part of Project Factor J, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale in collaboration with Janssen Italia, the pharmaceutical branch of the Johnson & Johnson Group, and has the patronage of the Italian Higher Health Institute. The objective of Factor J, which has already reached over 9000 students, is to help young men and women to develop greater awareness about situations of unease and show responsible behaviour that is respectful of differences.
“We must be ready to face the future with an awareness of the challenges we have overcome in the past. And as we are speaking about the future, it’s important to involve the younger generations in this discussion,” comments Loredana Bergamini, Medical Director at Janssen Italia. “Over the past year, we have witnessed an unprecedented commitment. What is happening will become history. Never before have we imagined that we could develop and roll out a vaccine less than one year after the viral sequence was identified. Vaccines are fundamental to history. They have provided solutions that have changed the course of events.”
Epidemics, from AIDS to Covid, remind us of the stigma and prejudice - defined by the WHO as “the hidden burden” – that can sometimes be even more dangerous than the disease itself, admonished Margherita Errico, President of the HIV-pistive Individuals Network (NPS onlus). “The project raises the awareness of students to prevent stigmatising behaviour during such as complex period of time as the lockdowns. It is fundamental to continue educating on prevention and be responsible towards the health of everyone. I would like young men and women to become the agents of change, capable of positively spreading trust in science and research in others. Vaccination is an act of civil responsibility.”
The protagonist of the cover story is Sara De Biasi, a research from Mantua, who passionately presented her studies on the immunity system of patients, underlining that research means progress. “We need courage, passion and emotional strength.” [youtu.be/oO1Y4HWBLog].
“We are helping the young to develop social antibodies against isolation and individualism to discover the community dimension of wellbeing and health, based on empathy, dialogue and respect. And on scientific knowledge through the passionate stories of young researchers who are always present at our live events,” underlines Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
The role of students as ambassadors of wellbeing and facilitators in the process of curing is also emphasised by Novella Caterina, Technical Director of the Lombardy Regional School Office, who has invited students to develop the strategic abilities that are required to manage the pandemic.
Project Factor J is promoted by the Rome “Campus Bio-Medico” University as scientific partner with a network of eight patient associations: Italian Association against Leukaemia, Lymphomas and Myelomas (AIL), Italian Pulmonary Hypertension Association (AIPI), Piedmont Rheumatic Patients (AMaR), National Association for Chronic Intestinal Inflammatory Diseases (AMICI Onlus), National Association of Skin Friends (ANAP Onlus), Italian Psoriasis – Friends of the Corazza Foundation (APIAFCO), HIV-positive Patients Network (NPS Italia Onlus) and Project Itaca Onlus.
The event was moderated by Maria Grazia Putini, RAI journalist.
