The "Day of the white coats"Will be celebrated every year on February 20, to honor the work, commitment and sacrifice of health workers at the forefront of the fight against the Coronavirus. In fact, the establishment of the "National day of health, social and health personnel, social welfare and voluntary work".
This is based on the Law of 13 November 2020 n. 155, published in the Official Gazette of 26 November last. For the day, which is a civil solemnity, the government will now have to determine how to carry it out, also in coordination with the orders and sector associations.
The Day of the white coats
The director launched the proposal Ferzan Ozpetek. The initiative boasted the active support of the SIAE which started a petition and made an appeal to the president of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and to the highest offices of the state. “An idea - explains the director - that came out listening to the stories on the phone of medical friends who left Rome to go and help out in the hospitals in the north.
I wish that if a child, maybe ten years from now, asked us 'what does the white coat party mean' we could tell about the time we are living. That is the stories of the women and men who worked and sacrificed themselves to help others. It will also be a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives. But, above all, a celebration and thanksgiving for all those who work in hospitals. People we cannot, we do not want, we must not forget when this emergency is over ”.
The discovery of 'patient one' on February 20
The date proposed by Ozpetek, suggested to the director by Luciana Littizzetto, is February 20. This is the day on which Annalisa Malara, anesthetist at the Codogno hospital, discovered that Mattia, the 38-year-old identified as 'patient one', had been hit by the Coronavirus. The president of the Yes, Mogol, supported the proposal and asked the dg Gaetano Blandini to prepare a petition. Petition “open not only to 90 SIAE members but to all artists and more generally to all citizens”.
The answer was not long in coming: the adhesions of the great names of entertainment and culture were numerous. From Alessandro Gassman to Carlo Verdone, from Caterina Caselli Alessandro Cattelan, from Al Bano to Alba Rohrwacher, Andrea Bocelli and Ambra Angiolini. The success of the petition is now history. As early as February 20, all of Italy will celebrate the Day of the white coats, a moment of meeting and reflection dedicated to all health professionals without distinction of roles. A day for the secular heroes of our time who have fought and are fighting an incredible war against an invisible enemy.
