On World Blood Donation Day, the Albanian Association of Voluntary Blood Donors (DHVGJ), received a modern bloodmobile, the first of its kind in the country, at the ceremony which was attended by Stefania Vizzaccaro, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS, Albanian Minister of Health Albania Kociu, etc.

"The inauguration of the mobile blood donation unit stands as a tangible symbol of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) commitment within the framework of the "RIPRESA" project. Funded with approximately EUR 1,4M, this initiative highlights the unwavering dedication of AICS ti fostering a healthier Albania. This mobile unit will enable us to reach remote communities, ensuring that blood donation becomes an accessible act for everyone, regardless of their location, with a special focus on the involvement of the youth," said Director Vizzaccaro.

RIPRESA is a project co-financed by AICS and led by COL'OR NGO, an Italian ngo which has been operating in Albania for years, together with other entities, including the Albanian Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, the National Transfusion Center of Tirana and the San Rafaelo Hospital in Rome.

For Dr. Natale Capodicasa, President of the Albanian Organization of Voluntary Blood Donors, securing this bloodmobile is a dream come true.

"Today is a special day for us, it was a dream to build a bloodmobile, which can go to all areas of Albania, to small towns where it is difficult for people to come to Tirana to donate blood. Through this ambulance we help citizens who want to donate blood," said Dr. Capodicasa.

"This ambulance will move to every corner of the territory that has donors and is willing to donate, it will make it easier for the National Blood Center to have enough deposits", underlined Minister Koçiu. She added that this ambulance completes the entire cycle from blood collection to delivery to the blood bank.

Thousands of lives are saved by voluntary blood donation, from accident victims to thalassemia patients who must receive blood every 2 weeks for the rest of their lives. Donating blood every 6 months can reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease.