ALLA 46th B.A. WEEK OF DONATION CULTURE

From November 29 to December 3 in Pisa, the Donors of Blood Fratres and the Association for Donating Life ONLUS were present. The 46th Air Brigade opened its doors to the volunteers of the Association for Donating Life ONLUL and the Donors of Blood Fratres. The event included the presence of staff from both associations at the Reparto for an information and mutual knowledge activity. On Thursday, December 2, in particular, it was dedicated to blood donation: the staff of the Brigade voluntarily went to the transfusion center of the Cisanello hospital to perform the blood donations. “It is with great pleasure that I have accepted the initiative proposed by Fratres and the Donare la Vita Onlus Association – said General Stefano Fort, Commander of the 46th Air Brigade – the dissemination of the culture of organ and blood donation, as well as the knowledge of the complex organizational machinery that makes it possible to carry out highly specialized surgical interventions, are today fundamental elements in achieving, in the healthcare field, the goal of saving as many human lives as possible. And the men and women of the 46th Air Brigade carry out daily activities in favor of the community and donating blood is for all of us another way of demonstrating our closeness to anyone in need.” The event concluded on Friday, December 3rd with a round table discussion, followed by a final press conference at the 46th Air Brigade Auditorium. Present were General Fort, the doctor Luigi Cardini, National President of Fratres, Prof. Franco Mosca, Head of General Surgery 1st University, Prof. Ugo Boggi, Head of Complex Operating Unit of General Surgery in the urological and diabetic field, Dr. Giraldi, Director of the AOUP (University Hospital of Pisa), and Dr. Vincenzo Passarelli, Head of the Transfusion Center and National President of AIDO. The base in Pisa is strongly integrated with the local, institutional and voluntary sector, particularly in the field of emergency management of the national system. This is demonstrated by the collaboration between the Air Force and Civil Protection during the recent TEREX 2010 seismic exercise, where the airport was the point of arrival for ambulances and field hospitals (For more information on the exercise, Click here). In 2010, the 46th Air Brigade was awarded the ‘Medal of Merit for Public Health’ by the Ministry of Health in recognition of the commitment shown in the various activities carried out in Italy and abroad.
The Association for Donating Life was established in 2007. Its main purpose is the dissemination of the culture of donation and organ and tissue transplantation. Fratres is one of the national associations of blood donors. In Italy, blood donation is voluntary, free, anonymous, and responsible. Without the availability of blood, organ transplants would not be possible.