Today, at the Aula Magna of the University of Tuscia, in the presence of the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, took place the concluding event of the national campaign for blood and plasma donation, promoted by the Ministry of Health under the title “Dona Vita, Dona Sangue”. The campaign involved the National Blood Center, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), Sapienza University of Rome, Fnomceo, the General Inspectorate of Military Health, the main associations and federations of blood donors operating at the national level (Avis, Red Cross, Fidas, Fratres, Donatori Nati), and the University of Tuscia, acting both as a university of Lazio and as the coordinating institution for the Universities of Lazio, given the current presidency of the CRUL (Coordination Committee of Lazio Universities) held by the Magnificent Rector, Stefano Ubertini. Throughout the year, numerous activities were carried out on the territory by public and private entities, marked by an identifying logo alongside the institutional signatures of various partners.
Today, at the Aula Magna of the University of Tuscia, in the presence of the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, the concluding event of the national campaign for blood and plasma donation, promoted by the Ministry of Health under the title “Give Life, Give Blood,” took place. The campaign involved the National Blood Center, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), Sapienza University of Rome, Fnomceo, the General Inspectorate of Military Health, the main associations and federations of blood donors operating at the national level (Avis, Red Cross, Fidas, Fratres, Donatori Nati), and the University of Tuscia, acting both as a university of Lazio and as the coordinating institution for the Universities of Lazio, given the current presidency of the CRUL (Coordination Committee of Lazio Universities) held by the Magnificent Rector, Stefano Ubertini. Throughout the year, numerous activities were carried out on the territory by public and private entities, marked by an identifying logo alongside the institutional signatures of various partners.
The institutional greetings were opened by the Magnificent Rector Stefano Ubertini, who emphasized the importance of raising awareness about blood donation, especially among young people. “Universities are the ideal place for promoting blood and plasma donation, as centers of knowledge, innovation, and education with a lasting impact on the student community and beyond,” continued the Rector. “For this reason, we immediately felt emotionally involved in this campaign. Every day we interact with the younger generations of students, and it is important to increase their awareness of how much solidarity and support can be expressed through blood donation for the well-being of the community”.
The word then passed to the Rector of Sapienza University of Rome, Antonella Polimeni, who stated, “Dona vita, Dona sangue, is a project of high symbolic and social value. Sapienza enthusiastically joined the awareness campaign launched by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Blood Center and the Universities of Lazio, through the implementation of numerous initiatives within the University City. Over the past year, we hosted conferences, musical events, charity markets, informational stands, and promoted a sort of solidarity marathon inviting students and staff from all university facilities to participate. This is because it is crucial to convey the message, especially to the younger generations. Donating blood and plasma is not just an act of altruism towards others but a civic responsibility for the common good.”
In his speech, the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, reiterated: “We aimed to strengthen the culture of donation, particularly among the young, and since the start of the campaign, we have achieved significant results. Donating is a great act of generosity and altruism that saves lives. Therefore, we must continue to invest in communication and awareness-raising activities because it is precisely from personal and collective awareness that we can bring significant changes.”
Following the Minister’s speech, a coordination table was held where Sergio Iavicoli from the Directorate-General for Communication and European and International Relations of the Ministry of Health, Vincenzo De Angelis, Director of the National Blood Center, and Luigi Ottavio Mechelli, President of the Provincial Avis Association of Viterbo, alternated to illustrate the objectives of the campaign.
Vincenzo De Angelis, Director of the National Blood Center, affirmed in his speech: “The importance of the ‘Dona Vita, Dona Sangue’ campaign is reflected in the prestige of the entities that collaborated in its realization. The Ministry of Health, the donor associations and federations, ANCI, and many others. The contribution of the university world, represented by CRUI Lazio, University of Tuscia, and Sapienza of Rome, is perhaps the most important and delicate. Because if we do not put a stop to the lack of generational turnover in the donor population, the self-sufficiency of blood that has been taken for granted in our country for too long could soon be lost. The only way to address the problem is to increasingly involve younger population groups in the culture of donation. The actions undertaken by Unituscia, Sapienza, and CRUI Lazio move in this direction, and it was an important first piece of what, we hope, will one day be a lively mosaic of initiatives aimed at encouraging younger people to embark on the path of donation and ensuring the health of patients in the future.”
At the end, JurJi Filieri, a Unitus lecturer and Coordinator of the University Multimedia Center (CAM), presented the students who authored the winning projects of the “Dona Vita, Dona Sangue” campaign challenge. Digital products destined for radio, web, and traditional print media were created. Testimonials from a blood donor and a patient were also heard during the event.
Throughout the event, blood donation was possible thanks to the presence of the AVIS mobile blood collection unit, and there was widespread participation in donations.
Viterbo, march 14 2024
