The Italy-Albania partnership continues in the healthcare sector through the “Nave della Salute” initiative, promoted by the “One Health” foundation, which focuses on cancer prevention and more.

“We are happy to support such an important initiative,” said the Ambassador of Albania to Italy, Anila Bitri Lani.

“From this dual journey, a new and fruitful collaboration emerges between Italy and Albania. We aim to support prevention, thereby enhancing health and well-being in a comprehensive way. We have already launched other initiatives to strengthen the alliance between our two countries and better address the challenges posed by serious diseases,” she emphasized.

Every year in Italy, 390,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed (with 8,000 of those reported in Albania).

On Saturday and Sunday, along the Ancona-Durrës route, 15 doctors across 8 clinics carried out 373 free medical checkups. 10% of the Italian population is overweight, and 12% of Albanians are in the same condition. This is a serious health issue that increases the likelihood of developing multiple diseases, primarily cancer.

The “Nave della Salute” initiative aims to promote cancer prevention (but not only) through healthy lifestyles and early diagnosis support. It marks the first ever healthcare campaign developed between Italy and Albania.

“We started in 2024, and the second edition took place this past weekend. Through the great collaboration with the ‘Adria Ferries’ company, we set up 8 clinics on the Ancona-Durrës ferry, with 15 specialized doctors providing free checkups. A total of 373 medical visits were carried out aboard the ship. This was a great success that motivated us to develop a more extensive project,” explained Rossana Berardi, president of “One Health.”

In the coming weeks, bilateral meetings between experts from both countries will be organized, and training courses for young doctors will be launched. Scientific exchanges, brochures, webinars, and other informational events dedicated to the public will also be held.

“The priority should be to reduce the impact of the most common non-communicable diseases. Cancer is a concrete example of how certain pathologies can affect the public health of all citizens,” emphasized Mauro Boldrini, vice president of the “One Health” foundation.

In Italy, over 390,000 men and women are affected every year, while new cancer cases in Albania exceed 8,000.

However, prevention cannot be limited to virtuous behaviors such as not smoking, engaging in physical activity, or controlling chronic diseases.

Periodic checkups, with particular attention to nutrition through two onboard clinics, are essential in determining excess weight and can prevent and address serious health issues.

Giovanni Leonardi, head of the Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that this is a “wide-ranging project that promotes and highlights the importance of a correct lifestyle to maintain good health and prevent the onset of tumors.”

“We are increasingly convinced that our approach to health should guide our choices towards health policies. In fact, the connections between human health and animal health are evident,” he added.

“We are truly happy to have set up the clinics and hosted the doctors again this year aboard the AF MIA ship,” concluded Alberto Rossi, owner of “Nave della Salute.”

“Health is undoubtedly important, and in our view, it should always be promoted in every possible way, even through awareness-raising activities aimed at the population. Everyone should do their part, and we want to do ours by demonstrating how even a ferry trip can be an opportunity for protecting someone’s well-being. The success of these two editions encourages us to engage even more with the foundation,” he added.

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