An appeal to the well-known faces of sport, entertainment and TV to become testimonials of the importance of blood and plasma donation. It was launched by the regional councilor for Welfare, Guido Bertolaso who, on the occasion of the XX World Donor Day, scheduled for tomorrow 14 June, presented at Palazzo Lombardia together with the president of the regional Avis, Oscar Bianchi and the national one by telephone from Rome, Gianpietro Briola, a series of initiatives aimed at raising awareness on this issue. Federico Brembati, a thirty-three year old from Brescia who has been a donor for 15 years and a volunteer for the association, also spoke.
«The importance of donation – said Bertolaso – is often understood only when one is involved in a problem that requires transfusions: a car accident, a pathology or even a complicated birth. In reality, there are many occasions in which a life can be saved in hospital only if the quantity of blood necessary to intervene is available, just think of the case of the policeman Christian Di Martino, a state servant stabbed in a Milan station . If he had not received more than 100 bags of blood, plasma and blood products during the surgery carried out at the Niguarda hospital he would certainly have died.”
Also from this very recent news story, therefore, the heartfelt appeal to public figures to get involved in prevention activities as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ambra Angiolini did in recent months. “I would like to have – he explained – some footballer or sportsman like the n. 1 in world tennis or the new European high jump champion at our side. In fact, I think they would be the most effective testimonials.”
SELF-SUFFICIENCY OBJECTIVE – The objective of the Region and Avis Lombardia is precisely to achieve self-sufficiency of blood and plasma in the area, increasing the population’s awareness and expanding the base of voluntary donors.
«Unfortunately, even if we are very close to getting there – he added – we do not yet have complete self-sufficiency of blood and plasma and on this we must work together with AVIS and the organizations that deal with donation in the area. We need everyone’s collaboration and availability. For this reason I believe it is important to find illustrious witnesses who can help us advertise in the field of health and prevention.”
THE FUNDS INVESTED BY THE LOMBARDY REGION FOR BLOOD DONATION – The Lombardy Region invested last October with Giunt’s resolutionat 2.6 million euros, of which 800,000 relate to reimbursement rates for blood donation activities and 1.8 million euros for promotion and consolidation projects on the donation to be made in collaboration with Lombard associations.
The data from the 2023 Social Report of Avis Regionale Lombardia are significant a 10.39% increase in new members compared to 2022 (23,827 in 2023 versus 21,584 in 2022) and a increase in the total number of donors (261,811). However, the trend of donations remained stable (463,822, divided into 382,546 bags of whole blood, 76,237 of apheresis and 5,039 of other donations). For this reason, the main objective of Avis Regionale Lombardia is to increase them.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS A GOAL OF GREAT SOCIAL AND HEALTH VALUE – «Self-sufficiency of blood and plasma – he added Oscar Bianchi – is not only an operational objective, but also represents a goal of great social and health value: it means being able to count on internal resources, reducing dependence on external suppliers and guaranteeing a rapid and adequate response to the health system. In this period we are trying to raise awareness among current and potential Avis donors of the importance of donating, especially plasma, precisely to avoid having to resort to purchasing it on the foreign market. Today we are at 5% of the population who donate, so in fact we still have 95% to raise awareness and involve. How are we doing it? Providing information on how many and which products are made with plasma and the uses made of it in healthcare facilities. It is often taken for granted that blood and plasma are “archived” in sufficient quantities, but this is not always the case.”
Federico Brembati, a young donor and Avis volunteer who launched a strong awareness message, also reiterated the importance of the donation gesture.
“Donating is a gesture as simple as it is important – he said –. And becoming a volunteer is just as important! Very often young people don’t approach Avis due to lack of time, but very little is enough to make a difference. With just a small portion of their time, they can help save lives and support the community. I think it’s an opportunity to grow, meet new people and feel part of something big and meaningful.”
