Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
Today marks the IX World Day of Rare Diseases. On the occasion,
Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for
Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care) wrote a message
entitled "The Patient's Voice at the Centre. Join Us in Making
the Voice of Rare Diseases Heard". It emphasises how, for years,
this dicastery has closely followed the various initiatives for those
affected by such diseases, as well as focusing on their families, who
are sometimes the only ones who give voice to a problem that should
not be ignored by the various civil, scientific, and pastoral
agencies.
"This global initiative", the
prelate explained, "which aims to give proper emphasis to these
diseases and to increase knowledge, also finds growing interest in
the Church, so that those who, although suffering from diseases whose
incidence is minimal or rare numerically, are not abandoned or
isolated. They certainly cannot leave us indifferent. Indeed, their
condition, as the theme chosen for this 9th day indicates, cannot but
find echo in our hearts and in appropriate research and care".
"In particular", he
specified, "this means making these persons more and more the
protagonists, equipped with the necessary reference points and, at
the same time, raising the awareness of the competent authorities,
health professionals, pharmaceutical industry, and anyone who has a
sincere interest in rare diseases. All in order to break the curtain
of silence or exclusivity that is likely, in many cases, to hide a
problem that, however, concerns the whole of society".
"The Church also feels involved in
this commitment, constantly spurred by Pope Francis to grow and walk
in solidarity. … By means of this dicastery, the Church, as the
voice that can from many places have the leverage to achieve the
common good and justice in the social and health care field, intends
to bring the attention of its pastoral outreach in the area of rare
and neglected diseases – defined as diseases that particularly call
for solidarity – to this area and to the various scientific
research institutions".
"This ecclesial attention will
have a specific expression at the next international conference
organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, which
will take place at the Vatican from 10 to 12 November, 2016. This
initiative, almost at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy, will be a further occasion for highlighting the work of
corporal mercy that is assistance to the sick. It will be a sign of
solidarity with persons affected by rare diseases as well as with the
poor and vulnerable populations marked by neglected diseases, who
usually live in the most remote rural areas of the world".
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