Donate plasma, IMA urges recovered patients in Bihar's Bhagalpur

BHAGALPUR: With Covid-19 cases increasing alarmingly in the district, the Bhagalpur chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has made an appeal to the patients who have recovered from the infection to donate plasma and save lives of people from the deadly virus.

According to medical experts, plasma therapy has far-reaching outcome in treating patients suffering from Covid-19 infection.

They said screening of people for infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis was necessary before plasma donation.

Of the total 2,279 Covid patients in the district, 1,648 have recovered. Also, 383 of 496 Covid patients have recovered in neighbouring Banka district. So far, 27 people have died in Bhagalpur due to Covid and one Banka.

Dr Birendra Kumar Badal, secretary of Bhagalpur unit of IMA, said plasma therapy involves taking out plasma from the recovered patients after 28 days of their discharge from hospital. “The plasma of the recovered patients is then transfused into critically sick corona patients. The antibodies developed in a recovered patient helps in further development of antibodies in infected patients for their fight against the deadly virus,” he said.

Dr Badal added, “A recovered patient has to donate as low as only 25-30ml and up to 400-500ml once in every 15 days up to four months after discharge. The plasma can be donated at the designated blood banks and centres under the supervision of experts.”

Dr Badal said the IMA is trying to get requisite permission from the state health department for plasma donation at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH). “Many doctors and patients, who have recovered from Covid-19, have come forward to donate plasma,” he said.

Plasma is the clear, slightly yellowish liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other cellular components are removed, Dr Badal said.