by InTrieste
In a continued effort to raise awareness about the life-saving impact of organ, tissue, and cell donation, the Italian Association for Organ Donation (AIDO) will host its annual National Day of Yes in the heart of Trieste this weekend. The event, which marks a nationwide call for support, will be the centerpiece of a press conference attended by several high-profile figures, including Flavia Petrin, AIDO’s national president, and Marilaura Martin, president of AIDO Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The initiative has become a significant part of Italy’s public health agenda, highlighting the urgent need for increased organ donation. Following previous editions in Cagliari (2023) and Reggio Calabria (2022), this year’s main events will unfold in Trieste, a city known for its rich history and vibrant public spaces. Yet the reach of the campaign will extend far beyond the region, with volunteer-led efforts planned in town squares across Italy.
Thousands of volunteers from local AIDO chapters are gearing up for a series of events aimed at galvanizing support for donation. Their collective mission is straightforward: to raise awareness of transplants as a vital option for patients with few remaining treatment options. Organ donation, often seen as a last lifeline, is the focus of a growing public health effort in Italy, where waiting lists remain lengthy and the need for public engagement has never been more pressing.
One of the notable events in Friuli Venezia Giulia this weekend will be a meeting with the regional Transplant Network, aimed at fostering collaboration between health institutions and AIDO’s local branches. The weekend’s activities will culminate on Sunday with a flash mob in Trieste’s iconic Piazza Unità d’Italia, which will then proceed to the historic Molo Audace.
The day’s activities will conclude with a mass at the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Relief, also known as San Pietro Vecchio, celebrated by the Bishop of Trieste, Monsignor Enrico Trevisi. The religious service will offer a moment of reflection on the significance of donation as an act of both charity and medical necessity.
Simultaneous to the main events in Trieste, AIDO will be hosting awareness campaigns in various cities and towns throughout Italy. Local and regional branches have been mobilized to ensure the widest possible participation, with the goal of making the National Day of Yes a landmark event in Italy’s broader health campaign to increase organ donation rates.
AIDO, founded in 1973, has long been at the forefront of Italy’s push to expand donor participation, educating the public on the life-changing impact of transplantation. With this year’s event, the association hopes to galvanize even greater national support for the cause.
As Italy continues to battle long transplant waiting lists and public hesitation, the hope is that this year’s National Day of Yes will not only save lives but shift the cultural conversation around donation for the better.
