Accord lets children's hospital use Vatican heli facilities

(Vatican Radio) The Governatorate of the Vatican City State and Rome’s Bambino Gesù children’s hospital announced an accord on Friday to allow the hospital to use the heliport located in the Vatican Gardens to transport patients, personnel and medical equipment in urgent cases. The agreement is preparatory to the insertion of the Vatican heliport within the Regional network for emergency management. Informed of the initiative, Pope Francis expressed his joy and expressed his approval of the agreement, which will be of great help to the children.

Click below to hear our conversation with Dr. Massimiliano Raponi, Director of Health Care Operations at the  Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome

A communiqué regarding the development quotes the President of Bambino Gesù, Mariella Enoc, as saying, “We are grateful to the Holy See, the Secretary of State and the Governatorate in particular, in the person of the SCV’s Secretary General, Bishop Fernando Vergez Alzaga, for this opportunity, which is given to the Bambino Gesù hospital, and especially to the many young patients from all over Italy, who unfortunately need urgently to reach our hospital.”

Enoc goes on to say, “It is an important gesture of charity that responds to a basic health need: the physical proximity between the Vatican City State and our seat on the Janiculum Hill, in fact, will significantly shorten transport times, contributing in many cases to saving the lives of children.” Enoc also offered personal thanks the head of the Vatican Gendarmerie, Commandant Domenico Giani, who, she said, “worked so hard in a spirit of cooperation to achieve this result.”