From Sicily to Tunisia by kayak for the well-being of newborns.
Crossing the Mediterranean from Sicily to Tunisia by paddling to raise funds for neonatal health research. This is the challenge of "The Smuggle," a surfski canoe expedition that set off from Marsala the day before yesterday towards the Tunisian coast, with an expected arrival in the Tunis region at Sidi Bou Saïd after approximately 273 kilometers of navigation.
The heroes of this adventure are Andrea Menga, 23, from Monopoli, and Giovanni De Carlo, 27, from Chiavari. Both are enrolled in the "Medtec" program in collaboration with Humanitas University and the Politecnico di Milano, a curriculum that combines training in medicine and surgery with biomedical engineering education.
They departed on September 15 at 6:30 AM from the quay of the Società Canottieri Marsala, aboard a two-person kayak designed for open sea navigation. The arrival on the southern shore of the Mediterranean is expected between September 18 and 19, although the duration and route depend on maritime conditions and the pace of the crossing.
The expedition is supported by a support boat, essential for ensuring assistance and safety during the offshore stages.
Reverse Mediterranean Crossing
However, the sporting aspect is merely a means to highlight "Safer," a respiratory assistance device for newborns. Developed as part of research conducted at the Politecnico di Milano, this system is intended for healthcare facilities with limited resources. It is designed to operate without external medical oxygen supply and consumes little energy; these features are deemed crucial for use in regions where infrastructure and supply chains are fragile, according to a statement from the organizers. The organization "Medici con l’Africa Cuamm" is a partner in the upcoming clinical trial planned in Uganda. The campaign aims to fund the development, field validation, training of healthcare personnel, and the certification process for the device. The estimated budget for the clinical study is 185,000 euros.
The very name "The Smuggle" — which literally means "the smuggling" — is deliberately symbolic. The organizers emphasize that the initiative is not intended to imitate or turn into a spectacle the migratory routes of the Mediterranean, but to perform the crossing in reverse to convert the attention generated by this sporting feat into resources for research and access to care.
The arrival at Sidi Bou Saïd will thus establish a sporting and supportive link between the two shores of the Mediterranean, with the sea serving not only as a field for the athletic challenge but also as a vehicle for a health project aimed at children in the least favored countries.
I. B. (with Ansa).
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