GUWAHATI, Aug 26 - Despite the State Government trying to reach out to COVID-19 recovered patients from outside Assam to donate plasma, the response has so far been far from satisfactory even as the demand for plasma from donors with A positive, B positive and AB positive blood groups is being felt.
So far, plasma from only three donors from outside the State could be received and if sources are to be believed, the Health Department is contemplating to restrategize its action-plan to woo more donors from outside the State.
Pomi Baruah, OSD to National Health Mission and in-charge of plasma donation, told The Assam Tribune that more than 20 persons from outside the State have recently evinced interest and the department is taking care of the related paperwork.
Unlike the trend vis-�-vis donors from outside the State, plasma donations from COVID-19 recovered patients from within the State have been showing an encouraging trend.
As on Tuesday, 626 COVID-19 recovered patients from within the State have registered themselves for donation. The total number of plasma units issued till date stands at 550.
Till Tuesday, more than 450 donors have donated plasma in the State of which 345 donated at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, followed by Silchar Medical College and Hospital (38), Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (36) and Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (28).
�As on August 26, we have received more than 1200 plasma-related queries at 104 facilities where the callers have evinced interest for donation,� an official told this reporter.� In mid-July, the State Government made an appeal to COVID-19 recovered patients residing outside the State to donate plasma in the State stating that all such donors will be treated as a State guest and they will be given free air tickets, besides a letter of appreciation from the State Government. Health Department officials, however, asserted that it is too early to arrive at a conclusion. The State Government is planning to intensify the reach-out exercise.
The Government had also announced that those willing to donate plasma can dial at 104 and the plasma donation certificate will help them get preference over others when it comes to availing Government schemes and also in Government jobs.
Plasma donated by a COVID-19 recovered patient (within 3 months of recovery) can be used to treat two patients.
