Huge response to plasma donation; Assam COVID-19 cases 36,295

Active 8,368, Discharged 27,832, Death 92

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: There's reason to rejoice that plasma therapy or CPT (Convalescent Plasma Therapy) treatment is receiving good responses from cured COVID-19 patients in Assam. So far, 50 persons have donated blood for plasma at the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital). Besides, 270 others have also registered their names for blood donation.

Among the 50 donors, 26 are from Kamrup (M), four from Goalpara, three from Nagaon and two each from Dhubri, Hojai and Jorhat districts.

Talking to The Sentinel, Mission Director of NHM, Assam Dr Lakshmanan S said, "We've received over 700 calls over 104 (toll-free) and other contract numbers and emails from people who are willing to donate blood for plasma. As many as 15 callers are from outside Assam – from Delhi, Hyderabad and Alipurduar. Already 270 of the callers have registered their names for blood donation for plasma. Before blood donation, the health conditions of the would-be donors will have to be ascertained."

Plasma therapy is already in practice in the GMCH. Many COVID-19 patients are responding well to the treatment.

Pomi Baruah, an NHM official on special duty for donation of blood for plasma, said, "This treatment is available only in the GMCH now. Machines for plasma banks have been already installed in the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) and Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH). Training for technicians and other official works are going on. Plasma therapy is going to start soon in these three medical colleges as well.

"The numbers of calls and blood donors for plasma are increasing every day. After the second week of August over 100 people will complete 28 days of recovery from corona, and they will be eligible for blood donation. A donor, cured from symptomatic corona, should be over 18 years of age with a weight of at least 55 kg. This part, the donor should be free from other diseases like diabetes, liver diseases, kidney diseases, thyroid disorder, other endocrine disorder, etc. Certificates with photos of donors have been uploaded in the websites of NHM and Assam Plasma Bank."

The State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that people donating blood for plasma would get priority in jobs and other facilities of government schemes.

In a significant development, the quarantine period for passengers arriving in Assam from other States has been reduced to 10 days from 14 days.

The announcement was made through a notification issued by the State Health and Family Welfare Department. The notification stated that if a passenger spends the initial two days in a hotel/institutional quarantine, he/she shall have to spend the remaining duration of eight days in home quarantine.

Similarly, if any passenger directly proceeds for home quarantine, then he/she shall spend 10 days in home quarantine. However, if the RT-PCR test result of such passengers turns out to be positive in the interim, steps will be taken as per standard procedure, the notification added.

Meanwhile, Minister Sarma tweeted on Wednesday night, 'Very sad to share that four more COVID patients have lost their battle against the pandemic today: Bimal Paul (78) from Cachar, Hema Devi (77) from Tinsukia and Dr SAW Hussain (85) and Debari Karmakar (40) from Jorhat. May God help their families to bear this pain."