30 Rome-based Filipinos donate blood in efforts vs. COVID-19

At least 30 Pinoys in Rome, Italy donated their blood to a non-profi organization helping in efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs  said Wednesday.

According to the DFA, the blood-donation program was led by the Associazione di Donatori Volontari di Sangue La Rete di Tutti.

In a statement, the DFA noted that the blood drive was organized in partnership with iPARAMEDICI—an organization founded by Mr. Dindo Malanyaon and mainly composed of Filipino citizens in Rome focused on civil protection, health, and safety.

“The blood donation is a huge effort to help in the COVID-19 emergency. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Italian health authorities have been calling for blood donors as blood banks are experiencing low supply due to the health crisis,” the DFA quoted La Rete di tutti OdV President Di Iorio as saying to Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco.

iPARAMEDICI, the DFA said, has been collaborating with La Rete di tutti OdV for the past nine years.

As of May 6, Italy has 211,938 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 29,079 have died.

Italy ranks third among countries with the most number of COVID-19 cases behind Spain and the United States. —Llanesca T. Panti/LBG, GMA News