On Friday 22nd January, 55 blood bags were collected at the Wing's Command for the benefit of AVIS, Martina Franca section. The auto-donation blood mobile from the SS. Annunziata Hospital of Taranto, managed by Dr. Giuseppina Barra Parisi, was parked in the area in front of the church, within the Wing's premises, throughout the morning and welcomed all aspiring volunteer donors. The donors, after a thorough screening (completion of a questionnaire, physical examination, medical history, blood pressure, and haemoglobin check), underwent blood donation.
The Wing Commander, Colonel Paolo Citta, stated that “solidarity is one of the sentiments that brings together and distinguishes the Italian population. Donating blood is one of the most concrete demonstrations of support for all those who, for the most varied reasons, need this precious component. A few days ago, many of our servicemen also joined the organ donation awareness campaign. Support for those who are ‘less fortunate than us’ is the impulse that drives the Air Riflemen and all the personnel of the Department to ‘help without exception’.”.
In addition to being engaged in Sudan, Gabon/Congo, and Iraq, the Air Riflemen currently have units operating in Herat (Afghanistan) and Haiti for the earthquake emergency.
