Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and government officials joined the initiative of "Donate blood, save lives" in celebration of the World Blood Donors' Day on Saturday, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency reported.
The initiative turned the hall of the Albanian government building into a blood donation center where blood bank staff and Red Cross volunteers gathered to work and received the blood donators.
The blood donations were made in aid of thalassemia patients who suffer inherited form of anemia.
During the function, PM Rama appealed to all citizens to donate blood, calling it an obligation in aid of the needy people.
"As a blood donor, a tradition which we have established in Tirana municipality long ago, I believe this is an obligation for all. Everyone needs to know that donating blood is as good for your health as it is for the receiver," Rama said, pledging to take the initiative as an annual tradition for the PM office.
Thalassemia is a form of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorders that originated in the Mediterranean region. People with thalassemia make less hemoglobin and have fewer circulating red blood cells than normal, which results in mild or severe anemia.