ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Nov 23: The week-long plasma donation drive organized by the Indian Medical Association-Arunachal Unit (IMA-AP) kicked off today at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS).
State Health Secretary P Parthiban as Chief Guest while underscoring the efficacious role of convalescent plasma therapy in reducing significantly the mortality rate caused by novel coronaviruses, appealed to all recovered patients in the state to donate plasma to save lives. Appreciating IMA-AP for organizing the donation drive, Parthiban said apheresis machines have been installed both at TRIHMS and BPMH, Pasighat which are functioning perfectly since last one month and those who have recovered can donate plasma anytime.
“Although the state government now has the lab facility to collect plasma, turn-ups are very low. I would like to thank IMA-AP for taking the initiative by organizing the drive and at the same time raising awareness which is the need of the hour,” Parthiban noted.
“After getting infected with COVID-19, a patient’s condition changes from mild to moderate and then to serious. Even if we have clinical drugs such as Remdesvir to treat COVID, convulsive plasma therapy is one of the more proven methodologies,” he added.
Referring to the two COVID patients who were cured today with donated plasma collected through the IMA-AP drive, the Health Secretary hoped people will come forward to donate the life-saving blood component. “Some of the infrastructure may be lacking, but the state government is revamping all district hospitals in terms of beds, equipment, manpower, training to healthcare staff etc. The requirement of doctors in hospitals is also being looked into and they are being appointed,” he stated. Regarding preparedness for the ensuing Panchayat and Municipality elections, the Health Secretary asked the leaders and voters irrespective of political backgrounds to follow all social distancing and other Covid norms.
Speaking on the availability of Covid-19 vaccine, he revealed that a meeting has been convened by the Prime Minister with the CMs of all states on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
“The vaccine will be administered first to all healthcare workers and the data in terms of their numbers including that of Anganwadis workers has been uploaded in the Government of India portal. We are also fully prepared with cold storages and ready to start vaccination if the central government rolls out the COVID immunization drive anytime,” the Heath Secretary assured.
IMA-AP President Lobsang Tsetim said a total of 9 plasma (blood components) have been collected so far out of which two have been used to save two lives infected with COVID-19. “The donors included doctors, police personnel and an MLA and the campaign will continue for a week,” he revealed. TRIHMS Nodal officer on Covid-19 Dr. Tashor Pali gave a brief presentation on the importance of donating plasma to tide over the pandemic. “A recovered person can donate plasma in 14 days after a Covid test or without a test in 28 days. The COVID-19 convalescent plasma should be collected only from the recovered individuals and it can be used as antibodies to treat moderate or seriously infected patients,” he said.
“There is a slight drop in COVID-19 cases and even if the graph goes up, there are enough facilities to deal with the spread. We are going to install a CT scanner at DCH, Chimpu very soon and the state government is actively supporting us in the fight against the virus,” Director, TRIHMS Dr. Moji Jini said.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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