How Italy is addressing AMR during its G7 presidency? Welcome the new episode of the podcast series “Superbugs and You” while bidding arrivederci to AMR! This podcast – co-created by Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP-ASP) and the Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition (ARFC) - features clinicians, advocates, and policy leaders from Italy. The director of Active Citizenship Network and Responsible for EU Affairs at Cittadinanzattiva was involved in the podcast. Experts share the challenges and opportunities in implementing effective stewardship and clinical practice in the Italian healthcare system, as well as how effective policy can transform the landscape to battle AMR. To listen the podcast, click here. For further information, please read the appeal “Keeping AMR as a priority for the Italian G7 presidency” published by Active Citizenship Network.
Adult Immunization Board (AIB) country meetings are organized to discuss country specific aspects of adult immunization together with local experts. For these meetings, the Adult Immunization Board – led by the University of Antwerp and University of Florence - inviteslocal academics, health care professionals, public health representatives and policy makers to present on adult immunization strategies implemented in the country, as well as educational and communicative initiatives aimed at increasing adult vaccine acceptance and coverage rates.
In addition to Cittadinanzattiva's LinkedIn page in Italian, in January 2024 Active Citizenship Network's Linkedin page in English was also created, to offer updates to the many people who also follow us on this platform. This joins the long-standing active pages on social media FB, X and Youtube.
The European research project NUDGE, funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 research programme, investigated how intelligent behavioural nudges can be used to encourage consumers to save energy. On the occasion of the final event, organized in Brussels on 6 November in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg Delegation to the European Union and titled “Saving energy through nudging – How can behavioural science be used to create energy-saving incentives for end consumers?”, the consumer perspective was represented by Anastasia Chatzipavlou, Director of EEKE-Union of Working Consumers of Greece, member and representative of the European Consumers’ Union (ECU) (in the picture together with ACN’ Director). EEKE is the Greek consumer organization partner of Cittadinanzattiva, the only consumer organization involved in the NUDGE consortium. To download the NUDGE posters, click here and here. Read more (in Greek).
As of the end of December 2023, the ENGAGE project has concluded its work after three and a half years of research, collaboration, and contribution to current understandings of societal resilience. The project aimed to link the informal resilience naturally inherent in citizens with the formal work of authorities to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from nature-derived and man-made disasters and was co-funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme.
Interventions to address inequities in cancer screening currently do not adequately address the issue, especially from the perspective of patients, survivors and lay people. Several core pathways should be focused on when designing and implementing interventions: promoting personalised interventions; digital tools and social media; peer-based approaches; empowerment; addressing policy and systemic barriers; improving intervention design; and collaboration, including the involvement of patients and patient advocacy organisations. Read and download the research article also written with the contribution of Cittadinanzattiva.
The final event of the ENGAGE project took place on 23 November in Brussels. The protagonists were Cittadinanzattiva, the 14 partners from 8 different countries and the representatives of the Community of Practice and Knowledge promoted by ENGAGE in its long journey, which started in July 2020. ENGAGE has set itself the goal of increasing the capacity of communities to cope with major emergencies, starting from the enhancement of the role of citizens and civil society.
In the first panel “ENGAGEing Society”, Cittadinanzattiva illustrated its experience in conducting a proximity information action, carried out last summer in collaboration with ASLRM1. The aim: to protect the health of citizens, especially the most vulnerable, during heat waves.
The ENGAGE project was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 882850.
For more information on ENGAGE see the project website (in English) and our webpage (in Italian).
Organized by HealthTech For Care, partner of Active Citizenship Network, the HealthTech Innovation Days (HTID®) brought together 750 participants on 24 and 25 October in Paris, and remotely on 27 October, including researchers, public players, industry leaders, patient associations, patients, investors and entrepreneurs. French and European governmental institutions once again strongly supported the event. Read more
Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network participated in the 1st meeting of the AMR multi-stakeholder partnership platform established by FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH. The platform is an inclusive entity, bringing together actors to help preserve antimicrobials as life-saving medicines and ensure their responsible use.
In this first in-person meeting, members of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform gathered at FAO headquarters in Rome on 15-16 November 2023 for the inaugural Plenary Assembly. Open to all Platform members, this event laid the foundation for collective action on AMR. One session was dedicated to the presentation of Action Groups' proposals and exchange with members, such as the one on "Addressing the antibacterial pipeline and access crisis" also promoted by Cittadinanzattiva-ACN. Read more.
On 5 December, the European Commission adopted the EU4Health 2024 work programme to implement key EU health policy priorities within the framework of the European Health Union. The budget of €752.4 million will boost its development and provide funding to address important health issues across the EU. "Civil society has a crucial role to play in reaching out to our citizens," said Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. To strengthen the important role of civil organisations in the implementation of EU health policies, the EU4Health programme will continue to award operational grants of €9 million in 2024 and will launch a call for Framework Partnership Agreements for 2025-2026. Read more