«When it comes to a disease it is essential to choose carefully the words to use because it is the first step to combat stigma and ignorance. Don’t call me Morbo it is an invitation to change attitude towards the disease: Parkinson’s is not contagious, so let’s eliminate the word disease from our vocabulary ». With these words, Giangi Milesipresident of the Parkinson Italy Confederation, presented the photographic exhibition Don’t call me diseaseopen to visitors until may 22 at the Corner-Maxxi in Rome.
A photographic journey (which has also become an audio-book) where the portraits made by Giovanni Diffidenti tell stories of women and men living with Parkinson’s. But the gaze is not just on them. A section is dedicated to family caregivers with the aim of emphasizing the importance of these figures, mainly children and spouses, in the daily life of the person with Parkinson’s.
“The exhibition started in Milan and arrives in Rome after having toured Italy for two years in which we have collected stories and experiences of everyday life but also extraordinary projects that tell about different ways of living with the disease without giving up one’s life or losing the smile, and the images on display show it to us “, continues Giangi Milesi.
The project was supported by all the associations that deal with Parkinson’s in Italy precisely to counter the prejudices and the often wrong narrative that is made of this disease. In Italy the official estimates speak of 230 thousand people affected by Parkinson’s in Italy, a number that however does not take into account all those people who decide not to declare their illness due to the many stereotypes and prejudices that still generate the stigma towards the sick and their families today. Add to this the complexity of making the diagnosis.
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Source: Vanity Fair