In Emilia-Romagna, more and more people are choosing to donate blood, a simple but precious gesture especially in view of the summer holiday period. In 2023, in fact, they responded to the calls to donate blood 146,218 (+5,321 compared to 2022), a number which, as in previous years, allowed the region to confirm its self-sufficiency and at the same time to send support to those in difficulty: in the first five months of 2024, 1,860 units of blood were supplied to other regions. In the first five months of 2024, the units of whole blood donated remained stable (-0.5%) compared to the same period in 2023, exactly 89,699 against 90,167, with a positive balance between the units collected and transfused, as a result of a greater attention of clinicians to the appropriate use of blood resources.
2024 also started well for the collection of plasma and platelets, with a clear increase: the overall estimate for this year, considering the performance of the first five months, is to reach the best figure ever for Emilia-Romagna: almost 106 thousand kilograms collected in apheresis (plasma and platelets).
The data on donations in Emilia-Romagna and the communication campaign in view of the summer period were presented this morning at a press conference in the Region, in Bologna, on the eve of World Blood Donor Day which will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday 14 June .
“Donate blood and plasma- underlines the regional councilor for health policies, Raffaele Donini– it is a simple gesture, fundamental for saving human lives, especially in summer. This year too, the numbers tell us that the people of Emilia-Romagna have responded with conviction to our appeals, confirming generosity and civic sense. A result that is mainly thanks to the volunteers of Avis and Fidas, the regional system and the coordination from the Regional Blood Centre, to which we are grateful. The regional blood plan, recently approved and which will soon begin its journey in the Assembly – closes Donini – intends to strengthen this precious collaboration. Now, however, we are all called to do even better and for this reason we renew, through the face and words of Paolo Cevoli, the invitation to donate”.
“We are very satisfied with this Blood Plan, which enhances and recognizes the great work of the Associations and the trust in unpaid blood and plasma donors. says Maurizio Pirazzoli, AVIS regional president-. We will do our best for full implementation, as we always have done and will do, because everyone’s health is our priority. I join the appeal to existing donors, inviting them to book an appointment before leaving for the holidays and, for those who are not yet donors, to take advantage of the summer for the suitability visit: as a gesture of solidarity and as the first safeguard of their Health”.
“The intense and fruitful collaboration between donor associations, transfusion centers and regional institutions is confirmed as the added value of the transfusion system of Emilia-Romagna, as recognized in the latest Blood and Plasma Plan. adds the regional president of Fidas, Michele Di Foggia-. The fruits of this collaboration have allowed us to further increase the collection of blood and other blood components (plasma and platelets) in these first months of the year, which has allowed us to provide our patients with what they need. The excellent result of the last summer donation promotion campaign makes us look to the summer with confidence and serenity, certain that our donors will not miss out on their contribution before leaving for the holidays”.
The regional blood plan
Strengthening the relationship between the Region and the donor associations is the Regional Blood Plan, approved in recent days by the Council and ready to be presented first to the Commission on 17 June, then to the Legislative Assembly for final adoption.
The Plan recognizes the fundamental role of the Associations and Federations of blood donors and of the Associations of marrow donors in the transfusion system, in agreement with the regional and local reference transfusion institutions and structures, as partners in the co-planning, planning and definition of policies for the common good. The Region also recognizes as a value the local roots of volunteers who support the regional health service.
One of the strong points of the Plan is the commitment to maintain blood self-sufficiency in our territory, guaranteeing it throughout the year and contributing, according to the stipulated agreements, to national self-sufficiency. Another relevant point is the commitment to achieve self-sufficiency in plasma collection. Through funding from voluntary donors, the Emilia-Romagna regional health system saved just under 19 million euros in 2022. The self-sufficiency of blood products envisaged with this Blood Plan would allow significant resources to be allocated to other healthcare expenses for the benefit of the community.
“Start light! Donate blood before the holidays”, the communication campaign
This year too, the Romagna actor Paolo Cevoli is the testimonial of the communication campaign promoted by the Emilia-Romagna Region, which is being relaunched in view of the summer period.
“Start light! Donate blood before the holidays” is the message of the campaign created together with Crs (Regional Blood Center Emilia-Romagna), Avis (Italian Blood Volunteers Association), Fidas (Italian Federation of Blood Donor Associations), Admo (Bone Marrow Donor Associations – Emilia-Romagna), FedRed (Federation of Hemophilia Associations of Emilia-Romagna Onlus) and ALT (Association for the fight against Thalassemia of Ferrara).
A multi-channel strategy was studied for the campaign: in addition to the video (), the message will be shared on the main social media.
2023 and 2024 data: whole blood, plasma and platelet collection
In 2023, the units of whole blood donated were 214,313, compared to 215,319 the previous year (-0.47%). This is not a negative figure, but the result of regional planning, i.e. collection based on needs also thanks to the contribution of donor associations/federations.
The analysis by territory shows a slight increase in Romagna (+523 units for the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini), a slight decrease, equal to -1.61%, in central Emilia (including the provinces of Bologna and of Ferrara), a stable figure (-0.45%) for northern Emilia (for the provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena).
In 2023, 195,619 units were transfused compared to 201,577 in 2022 (-2.95%). This result made it possible to never have periods of shortage during the year and made it possible to contribute 5,166 units to national self-sufficiency in 2023 by sending these units to deficient regions.
In the first five months of 2024, 89,699 units of whole blood donated compared to 90,167 recorded in the same period in 2023 (-0.5%). The balance between the units collected and transfused is positive, as a result of greater attention by clinicians to the appropriate use of the blood resource.
Apheresis collections, i.e. those relating to plasma and platelets, are increasing: in 2023 they were 71,237 compared to 67,913 (+4.89%) in 2022: an important figure, because plasma is essential for the production of plasma medicines derivatives such as albumins and immunoglobulins, capable of saving the lives of numerous patients.
Apheresis collections were 32,553 in the first five months of 2024, with an increase of 14.6% compared to the 28,403 apheresis collected in the same period of 2023. In the same period, 44,103.49 kg of plasma were delivered to the industry , with an increase of 7.7% compared to the 40,948.81 kg sent to the industry in the same period of 2023. The result obtained for the first five months of 2024 allows us to estimate the overall collection for the year 2024 at approximately 105,848.376 kg , the best figure ever achieved by our region.
In any case, the delivery of plasma for industrial fractionation remains well above the national average: in 2023 the delivery rate in Italy was equal to 14.9 kg for every thousand inhabitants, while the Emilia-Romagna Region has conferred 22.5 kg per thousand inhabitants, which places us among the top three regions in Italy.
For the first four months of the year 2024, the contribution rate in Italy was projected to be 15.6 kg for every thousand inhabitants, while the Emilia-Romagna Region delivered 23.7 kg for every thousand inhabitants.
