Assam govt urges plasma donors from within state & outside to come forward

Guwahati: Assam health and family welfare minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed all cured symptomatic COVID-19 patients to come forward and donate plasma. He announced that if any person from outside Assam wishes to come and donate plasma, then they’ll be treated as state guests, while locals will be given other privileges.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the minister said that a recovered person can donate plasma till 3 months after their recovery, and many states are yet to start a plasma bank or plasma therapy. So if people from those places wish to come to Assam for donating plasma, then they will be given two-way flight ticket, and their stay and transportation will also be taken care of by the state.

Meanwhile, for the locals coming forward to donate plasma, the state will issue them a ‘plasma donor certificate/card’, and a letter from the health minister. Also, this donor card will give them an upper hand, as when it comes to government jobs or other schemes, they will be given priority.

It is to be mentioned that only symptomatic COVID-19 recovered patients can donate plasma, not the asymptomatic once. Also, one person can donate 400 gm of plasma which can save two lives.

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Sarma informed that in the first three months, the state recorded 4,309 COVID-19 cases, however, in the last 30 days, that is, from June 15 to July 15, Assam recorded 12,218 cases.

The state is optimistic that by October it will have enough plasma donors in the state itself, but as of now, only six recovered patients have donated plasma.