World Blood Donor Day spurs nationwide Italian donation drives

The World Health Organization’s World Blood Donor Day on 14 June promotes voluntary, unpaid blood donation worldwide. In Italy, more than 3 million donations were recorded in 2024, allowing the transfusion of around 640 000 patients and the use of plasma‑derived medicines for thousands daily. A single unit can save up to three lives. Medical experts note that donors receive free health screenings – blood pressure, hemoglobin, and sometimes ECG – providing a preventive check‑up, and some studies suggest possible cardiovascular benefits, though evidence remains inconclusive.

Several regional events marked the day. In Modena, AVIS, ADMO, AIDO and the provincial health authority signed an alliance to promote donation in workplaces and hospitals. In Diano Marina, regional assessor Marco Scajola addressed the public, urging community participation alongside the Red Cross, ADMO Liguria and local donor groups. The police’s “Donatorinati” volunteers joined FIDAS Umbria at a shopping‑centre drive, emphasizing that blood needs are constant, not seasonal. Ferrara’s Avis and Fidas, together with the local transfusion service, organized exhibitions and collected tens of thousands of units in 2025.

Globally, WHO Director‑General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted ongoing disparities: high‑income countries provide 36 % of the world’s blood despite representing only 15 % of the population, while low‑income nations face chronic shortages. The campaign’s slogan “A drop of humanity – donate blood, save lives” underscores the universal importance of safe, voluntary blood supplies.