COVID Fighters: Over 300 Healthcare Workers In Assam Queued Up To Donate Plasma To Save More Lives

New Delhi: Fulfilling their commitment towards serving the humanity, over 300 health workers in Assam, from both the public and the private sectors, queued up to donate plasma at a mega Plasma Donation Camp organised by the state government on Monday (August 10) at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati, which has the state’s first plasma facility. These frontline warriors who got infected with COVID-19 in the line of duty while treating coronavirus positive patients and subsequently recovered, have come forward to donate their plasma that can be used to treat critical COVID-19 patients.

Also Read: Assam’s New Strategy To Manage Coronavirus Includes Free Oximeters And Medicines For COVID Patients Isolating At Home

While speaking with NDTV, Dr Manas Kakoty from the National Health Mission of Assam said that the state’s health authorities are elated to see the response of the health professionals to donate the plasma to save the lives of others. He said,

It is important that we donate plasma because it helps in saving lives. I urge everyone who was infected and has recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma.

The frontline workers who came forward to donate plasma include doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, ambulance drivers, ward boys and hospital cleaners from various parts of Assam. Dr Fahima Nazim, a junior doctor at the Guwahati Medical College said,

After being cured, I have joined my duties back and I feel that right now, plasma donation should be the key focus for serious patients.

An ambulance driver who was infected last month and has now recovered told NDTV that he may have got the disease while carrying COVID-19 patients. He said,

I am now recovered. When I got to know that we can donate plasma and it can save lives of other COVID-19 patients, I decided to sign up.

Acknowledging the spirit exhibited by the frontline warriors, Pomi Baruah, the officer-on-special duty (OSD) at Assam’s National Health Mission said,

They all have responded to our call and after being cured of COVID-19, they have signed up for donating plasma, along with the private sector employees, in a bid to save humanity.

Also Read: Assam Government Announces Weekend Lockdown Until August 14, Here’s What Is Allowed and What’s Not

Moved by the gesture of the health workers, Assam’s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma organized a ceremony to salute the state’s frontline task force in the fight against COVID-19 and felicitate them with a certificate and a letter of appreciation. Mr. Sharma said in a tweet prior to the ceremony,

A large number of healthcare workers who got infected by #coronavirus have decided to donate their plasma after getting cured. A grand event is being organized on Monday, August 10 to felicitate them. Reviewed preparations for the same.

Felicitating the health workers, the health minister further mentioned,

Driven by the tenacity & dedication of our health workers, #Assam has been performing well in its battle against the pandemic. Today, they made us proud again by donating their #plasma for the treatment of patients.

The health minister also featured the ‘plasma heroes’ on his social media account to encourage more people who have recovered from the virus to contribute.

According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam, an estimate 1,200 health workers in the state have been infected by COVID-19 while fighting the pandemic.

Assam was the second state to start plasma therapy after Delhi. It currently has four plasma banks. According to the Health Department, the first plasma donor of the state was also a doctor who tested positive for COVID-19 in the state at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Earlier this month, more than 60 Assam Police personnel also donated plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients at GMCH. The state government now plans to take plasma therapy, which involves transfusion of plasma from a recovering patient which contains antibodies to critical patients, to every district and has urged the recovered patients to come forward and donate their blood plasma.

Also Read: 14,000 People In Assam Become ‘Pratirodhi Bandhu’ To Help The State Fighting Against Coronavirus

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.