Now, Army and paramilitary jawans will donate plasma

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STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI3: Good Samaritans as they are known all over, the Army and paramilitary jawans who have been cured of COVID-19 (symptomatic) have stepped in to donate plasma in Assam.

Top officers of the Army and other paramilitary forces – CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB and CISF – had a meeting with State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to this effect at Janata Bhawan on Monday. Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and 4 Corps GOC Lt Gen S Dayal were also present at the meeting where the top officers of the men in olive green conveyed the willingness of all the COVID-19-cured jawans to donate plasma in true spirit of Samaritans.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Minister Sarma said, "The COVID-cured Army and paramilitary men have also lent their support to the move initiated by the State government to bring about awareness among the symptomatic COVID-recovered people to donate plasma. Blood plasma from a COVID-cured person can save two COVID-19 patients.

"As many as 500 Army and paramilitary COVID-infected jawans came out victorious in their fight against the virus, and 10 per cent of them were symptomatic ones. All of such jawans are ready to donate their blood for plasma. Some of the jawans who've already left for the border for duty will also send their blood plasma from their respective stations."

Giving details of plasma treatment, Sarma said, "As of now, 190 COVID-cured persons have come forward for donating plasma. We've identified 79 of them as prospective donors. As many as 115 units of plasma have been collected and given to as many serious COVID-19 patients in ICUs (intensive care units). Initially, seven of the serious 115 patients died of the infection, and that compelled us to change the treatment protocol. Now we're giving plasma at the early moderate stage. It has reduced the mortality rate."

Regarding the COVID-19 situation in Assam and the Health department's efforts to flatten the curve, Sarma said, "A total of 35,000-40,000 Rapid Antigen Tests were conducted on Monday, including 5,000 tests in Guwahati alone. We have set a target of 50,000 tests for Tuesday. The more antigen tests we conduct, the more the number of COVID-19 patients will be. However, the COVID-positive rate has come down to 5 per cent in the State. In Guwahati, it is between 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent. The COVID positive rate will certainly come down further in Guwahati if we can strictly follow the COVID-19 protocol for a fortnight."

A 25-year-old youth from Kandewadi in Maharashtra, Mayuresh Motiram Bhoir, donated plasma in the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College & Hospital) on Monday.

COVID DEATH: Sarma tweeted in the evening: "Always painful to lose your own. Sad at four lives lost today due to COVID-19: Subrata Patra (45, Kamrup Metro); Haren Mahanta (65, Sivasagar); Sukendra Kumar Tanti (53, Tinsukia); and Madan Dutta (80, Dibrugarh). My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families."

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