Union Minister Harsh Vardhan Launches ‘Plasma Donation Campaign’ At Delhi’s AIIMS Hospital

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday (July 19) launched ‘Plasma Donation Campaign’ in association with Delhi Police at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. Speaking about the initiative, Dr Vardhan said, “In this war against COVID-19, corona warriors have played an important role. In Delhi, 2,532 police coronavirus warriors have been affected and some even lost their lives. To ensure safety against the virus, several attempts are being made. It is necessary to give plasma donation a bigger platform.”

Also Read: Delhi Government Updates Plasma Policy, Recipient Hospital Needs To Find A Replacement Donor

He said that the invention of medicines and vaccines against COVID-19 is underway and plasma donation is being used for some serious patients. He added that two candidates for the vaccine have started human trials but time for the scientific process cannot be predicted.

A large number of Delhi Police personnel have stepped forward and donated plasma at AIIMS. I congratulate them. They are not just corona warriors, they are plasma warriors as well. I hope with this campaign, recovered patients will be inspired and step forward to donate plasma. Any recovered patient can donate plasma twice a month, he added.

“Today Delhi Police and AIIMS have started plasma donation campaign and several corona warriors donated plasma. There is a policeman Om Prakash who has donated for the third time. We do not have specific antiviral treatment, the treatment is supported,” said Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS.

If plasma is donated, we can use it in the treatment to save patients. It is a noble cause. I appeal to other COVID-19 warriors to step forward and become plasma warriors as well, he added.

Also Read: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Urges Recovered COVID-19 Patients To Donate Plasma, Call Them Heroes

“Delhi Police has been part of government efforts against COVID-19. Several policemen have been affected and they recovered also. The recovery rate in Delhi Police is 84 per cent. A large number of policemen have come forward to donate plasma,” said a Delhi police official.

We have tied up with AIIMS to provide plasma to the needy patients. This plasma donation camp will encourage the public to donate. As a team we have seen that policemen are healthy and motivated, he added.

Also Read: Coronavirus Outbreak Explained: What Is Convalescent Plasma Therapy And How Effective Is It In Treating COVID-19 Patients?

According to a press release by the government, “Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients contains protective antibodies to the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can provide immunity to patients of COVID-19 when transfused. Considering its potential benefit, plasma therapy is provided to those patients who are not responding to conventional treatment.”

The blood bank will assess their eligibility for blood donation and check the level of COVID-19 protective antibody levels in their blood before they can donate. The blood of a survivor usually has a high concentration of such antibodies and when given to a susceptible person, these antibodies circulate in blood, reach tissues and neutralise the virus, the release said.

Also Read: Fight Against COVID-19: Delhi Gets Its Second Plasma Bank At LNJP Hospital

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.