Vincenzo (as the professor would like to be addressed because, as he says, there are no ranks in the fellowship of Rotarians) is a Pathologist, Oncologist, Forensic Scientist and Associate Professor of Pathology at University of Trieste. While confirming the sad situation in Italy, he was quick to point out that the rate of spread is at a plateau and he is hopeful that things are slowly getting less distressing, in comparison to what has been. While the health professionals are making the best of a stressful situation, the rest of us need to do our part to relief the pressure with good health practices and personal hygiene. Rather than to keep score on infections, he would prefer us to focus on the fact that approximately 38,000 lives had been saved by the work of the doctors and nurses in his country as he spoke.
He questioned the need for people to be engaged in discussions of conspiracy theories and blame fixing; "What can such discussions add to improve the situation? If they are right, so what?" Instead, he encouraged us all to work together, encourage one another and promote kindness.
It is amazing how the need for isolation for each of us has indirectly opened up channels of communication, friendship and fellowship across the world that we wouldn’t have thought of the week before. As the professor prescribed, let us continue to work together, encourage one another and promote kindness at home and across the world. Rotary Connects the World.
