Corona patients in Ranchi are unable to get plasma due to lack of donors. People are not showing interest in coming forward and donating plasma. Taking view of the situation, RIMS management has started counseling corona patients who have recovered from severe and common symptoms. The RIMS management has prepared a list of 422 people in the district and other districts as well. More than 100 people meet the initial criteria for donation.
Dr. Mithilesh Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of RIMS PSM, said that the initial criteria also includes people who suffered from some other diseases with corona such as cold-cough, fever, diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid etc. After inspecting the patients on the initial criteria, other infectious diseases will also be investigated for, so that the maximum plasma can be collected from the donor.
The ICMR has also changed the earlier guideline to take plasma from a person who has recovered from coronavirus from 28 to 14 days. Hence, after recovering from the corona, one will not have to wait 28 days to donate plasma. Plasma can be donated within 14 days.
The death toll from corona infection continues to rise in the state. Coronavirus affects the immune system of patients and makes them weak. A vaccine has not been made yet, but ever since the ICMR approved plasma therapy, a silver lining had emerged in serious patients and their families. But now hopes seem to be dwindling.
On July 28, Chief Minister Hemant Soren had inaugurated the plasma bank at the blood bank of RIMS. Even after 12 days of inauguration, only 8 people have donated plasma. So far 1000 people have returned to their homes after recovering. Out of them, there were about 350 who have won the battle when affected from serious illness. Ranchi by itself has more than 2000 cases active currently and more than 250 patients who need plasma. But no one has come forward to help.
The team of doctors of PSM department is contacting 50 to 60 healthy people on a daily basis. RIMS is constantly urging the district administration to plan for a plasma donation camp. The proposal is for plasma donors to get Rs 1000 as travel expenses. Those coming from other districts will be given Rs 2500.
