GUWAHATI: Deputy Commissioner, Cachar district in Assam, Keerthi Jalli on Thursday inaugurated the town’s convalescent plasma bank at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for patients with novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.
“Today, SMCH started plasma bank. Till the time a vaccine is developed, plasma will help save lives as plasma therapy has a role in reducing death rate as well. One of the benefits of having the bank in SMCH is that it will be easier for people to come here and donate,” Jalli said while inaugurating the plasma bank.
All critical patients will receive two doses of 200 ml of convalescent plasma. The plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients contains antibodies that help critically ill patients in fighting infection and recover.
“The entire plasma therapy treatment will be free of cost to all the patients admitted to the hospital. The donors will have no weakness whatsoever after plasma donation as red blood cell count returns to the patients,” said Principal of SMCH, Dr. Babul Kumar Bezbaruah.
“The entire plasma therapy treatment will be free of cost to all the patients admitted to the hospital. The donors will have no weakness whatsoever after plasma donation as red blood cell count returns to the patients,” said Principal of SMCH, Dr. Babul Kumar Bezbaruah.
Convalescent plasma therapy uses the blood component plasma — rich in virus-fighting antibodies from patients who have recovered from the infection — to aid the immune system of COVID-19 patients.
“It is still an experimental therapy that has been approved by the health ministry for use in patients whose need for oxygen increases despite providing oxygen support and steroids,” said a doctor of SMCH.
The SMCH authorities said the plasma received will be used for patients coming from the three districts of Barak Valley and also adjoining areas.
The hospital has so far provided the plasma therapy to only one patient, Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, Aminul Haque Laskar, who incidentally happens to be Assam’s first COVID-19 patient to be administered the plasma therapy. Laskar after being cured was discharged on Thursday.