Plasma donation drive at TRIHMS in Naharlagun

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: To meet the shortage of 'plasma', which is needed for the hour, the Arunachal Pradesh unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA-AP) will be organizing a 'plasma donation drive' at TomoRiba Institute of Health and Medical Science (TRIHMS), Naharlagun this month.

Addressing media persons at the press club here on Friday, President IMA-AP Dr. LobsangTsetim informed that the Plasma donation drive will start from November 23 to November 28.

Appealing the COVID-19 survivor to volunteer in the donation, Dr. Lobsang said that the humanitarian help by donating plasma will help them in winning the battle against Covid-19.

"Plasma donation is the need of the hour, considering the surging cases in the state. The plasma donation for convalescent plasma therapy is to improve the recovery rate and reduce mortalities in the state," Dr. Lobsang said, adding that it is also an obligation to humanity and contribute a bit in combating the virus.

He informed that, out of 14,800 patients only 8 cured patients in the State have so far come forward and donated their plasma. While others are afraid of getting re-infected by the virus which is a misconception among them, and hence, refuse to donate, he added.

Dr. Lobsang said that Chief Minister Pema Khandu has also promised to provide recognition to donors as an award.

Meanwhile, IMA-AP general secretary Dr Jego Ori terming plasma as 'therapeutic treatment' to kill the virus informed that one plasma unit can save two lives at a time. A recovered patient can donate once in every 15 days up to two months after discharge.

"The therapy includes extracting the plasma from the recovered person's blood after 28 days of their recovery date and infusing it into a COVID-19 patient, as it contains a specific neutralizing antibody that removes pathogens, and possibly stop the virus from combining with the cell surface receptor, further stopping the disease progression," he said.

DrOri also added that those individuals completed two months or minimum 28 days of their recovery date both symptomatic and asymptomatic, age group of 18 to 60 years mostly male, and female who have not conceived yet are eligible to be a donor.

The registration for the drive has started and interested individuals can enroll their names through telephone contacts; 9402782869, 7628977650, 9436069257.

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