Milan (AFP)
Italian international rugby player Maxime Mbanda will receive the Order of Merit from the Italian Republic for volunteering as an ambulance attendant in Parma during the coronavirus pandemic, President Sergio Mattarella announced on Wednesday.
Mbanda, 27, is part of a list of around fifty doctors and medical staff, researchers and other volunteers thus awarded the highest Italian honor.
He joined the ambulance team alongside volunteers from the Yellow Cross of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna, one of the areas most affected by the coronavirus epidemic which left more than 33,500 people dead in Italy.
"I did not expect it, this recognition of my commitment fills me with pride (...) It is the recognition of the work of all these people who fought during this period and who do it in silence for years years, "he reacted.
Mbanda had explained to AFP in March the meaning of his commitment. "When everything was canceled with rugby, I wondered how I could help, even without medical competence (...) I found the Yellow Cross, which had a service of transport of medicines and food for the elderly people, "he said.
The 3rd line, born of a Congolese father, himself a doctor in Milan, and an Italian mother, has since resumed training with his team of Zebres, one of the most important clubs in Italy, based in Parma.
"It was the busiest 70 days of my life," he said recently on his Instagram account.
"I have transported more than 100 patients, I have had trying services where I could not eat my lunch until the evening, because I could not take off my coveralls for fear of being infected," he said. he continued.
"During the most difficult period, I cried every night to free myself from such unusual things that I had seen during the day," said Mbanda.
But the international player with twenty selections has no regrets: "In fact, I recognized it myself several times, I should have done that long before, I would advise everyone to try volunteering" , he concluded.
© 2020 AFP