‘Suspended drug’ campaign to help children ‘

You go into the pharmacy and do some good to the little ones. Thanks to the project ‘In Pharmacy for Children – Medicines suspended’ from December 1st to January 7th, it is possible to donate over-the-counter medicines, baby food and pediatric products for minors in health poverty. This important solidarity campaign was born as part of the national initiative ‘In Pharmacy for children’, created by the Francesca Rava Foundation – Nph Italia Onlus together with the Kpmg Network and dedicated, throughout the year, to raising awareness of the rights of children and to the collection of medicines and baby-care products for the most fragile minors. The campaign was married to the Apoteca Natura network of pharmacies: starting from December 1st each participating pharmacy will contribute to the initiative, setting up boxes for the collection and indicating to interested parties which essential products can be donated. The campaign formula – the promoters describe – recalls that of the ‘suspended coffee’, which became famous in Naples, and is aimed at combating child health poverty and raising awareness of a problem as hidden as it is widespread. At the end of the campaign, on 7 January, the products collected in each pharmacy will then be delivered – in agreement with the Francesca Rava Foundation – to local authorities, family homes, assistance centers and charities operating in each area. “Istat statistics show us that healthcare poverty in Italy is a worrying problem of extensive dimensions – explains Gianluca Strata, General Manager of Apoteca Natura -: in Italy there are more than 2 million families and over 5.6 million people in poverty absolute, of which 1.3 million minors who have difficulty in accessing care and purchasing health and hygiene products. Apoteca Natura – Strata recalls – is the first international network of benefit pharmacies in the world with over 1,000 pharmacies, of which about 700 in Italy, which by statute have undertaken commitments for the ‘Common Good’: this is why we enthusiastically joined the Francesca Rava Foundation project – Nph Italia On lus “.” For 20 years the Francesca Rava Foundation has been helping minors in conditions of hardship, mothers and fragile women in Italy, in Haiti and in the world “, declares the president Mariavittoria Rava, who adds:” The health emergency is economic and social one has also followed and there are really many requests for help that we receive daily from family homes, communities for minors and families who are unable to meet the needs of their children. Thanks to the ‘At the pharmacy for children’ initiative, now in its ninth edition this year – he continues – we concretely help 40,000 children in health poverty every year. We are therefore really happy to be able to continue in this important path of solidarity at kilometer 0 thanks to the ‘suspended drug’ project. Together we can contribute to the achievement of one of the most important sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda: health for all and for all ages (Sdg3) and make a real difference in a child’s life. Thanks to Apoteca Natura who joined this important project “, he concludes. The 9th edition of ‘At the pharmacy for children’ took place from 15 to 20 November (World Day of Children’s Rights) in over 2,100 participating pharmacies throughout Italy thanks to the precious collaboration of 4,300 volunteers and pharmacists who have been at the center of a great team with their social responsibility.For the 2021 edition, the initiative received the medal of the President of the Republic and the patronage of the Ministry of Health.