A project called 'Migrants: the right to health and social equality' was presented during the conference 'School as a means to forge citizenship', held on October 1, in Italy's southern Puglia region.
This project is dedicated to Giulia Monteleone, a teacher committed to social inclusion and the growth of educational facilities, who passed away six years ago. The conference, titled 'School as a means to forge citizenship', was held on Wednesday October 1, in Conversano, in the province of Bari, in Italy's southern Puglia region.
During the meeting, project leaders aimed to offer students at the institute the chance to learn about the delicate art of communication between migrant patients and doctors.
Some of the teaching prompted healthcare workers to really take into account, and become aware of, the rights migrants have, foreseen by the Italian constitution. These rights, such as the right to access healthcare and the right to equality of treatment are important for both migrants and healthcare workers to know.
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Research
The project carried out a series of evaluations through questionnaires, to assess the main effects of assistance produced by a regional law. The law was passed by the Puglia's Regional Council and it regulates access to healthcare for migrants.
Professor Monteleone campaigned hard for the project to be realized, in cooperation with the University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', the order of the surgeons and dentists of the province (OMCEO) of Bari, and the Italian Federation of general practitioners.
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International resonance
"This project had various objectives," explained Mariantonietta Monteduro, Secretary of OMCEO Bari.
"On the one hand, the project measures the quality of assistance and the ease of access to healthcare for migrants, on the other hand, it seeks to improve things further, while involving students, giving an added value to the social role of healthcare and school to safeguard human rights. An essential goal in an historic moment such as the current one, when fundamental human rights are constantly being trampled over or threatened on various fronts. Human rights that Giulia Monteleone was so committed to and dedicated passion and commitment towards this issue," added Monteduro.
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