Zubair Qureshi
Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Health Directorate has taken a big leap forward in treatment of Covid-19 patients with plasma therapy by introducing ‘plasma registry’ initiative to cure Covid-19 patients.
The treatment will be carried out with the help of the blood of those recovered from the virus. While talking to Pakistan Observer on Sunday, Director General of Health, Dr Hasan Orooj said in view of the overwhelming number of cases being reported from Islamabad, plasma registry initiative has been launched.
Federal capital whereas reported 5,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Sunday at the same time it reported 703 recovered cases that means their plasma could be used for treatment of coronavirus patients. Dr Orooj said plasma is the clear part of blood that is left when blood cells have been removed and contains antibodies and other proteins. Pakistani doctor of international repute in plasma therapy, Dr Tahir Shamsi is also due in the federal capital in coming days to help treat the infected patients, he further said.
We have machines in RIU and a couple of other hospitals for transfusion of plasma into infected patients’ bodies as well as transfusing blood into the body of the donor to make up for plasma deficiency, said Dr Orooj dismissing the notion plasma donation in any way can affect donor’s system. “It is just like blood donation and the donors should contact CDA contact persons on 0333-5169663, 0321-5848177 and 0335-5135455, said Dr Orooj.
What is plasma therapy?
It involves collecting blood from someone who has recovered from Covid-19 and transfusing separated plasma to a critically sick patient
This treatment modality has previously been used as a desperate last resort step during Ebola outbreaks of 2014, and also in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers).
“The transfusion of plasma with its antibodies provides a form of ‘passive immunity’ to the sick recipient to fight the infection. The antibodies from the recovered person’s blood plasma will strengthen the recipient’s resistance system and thus will yield favourable results.”
“We have launched the initiative with a purpose to consolidate data of potential plasma donors (recovered Covid-19 patients) for Islamabad,” he said. The recovered patients of Covid-19 are required to give the following information regarding I) their name ii) blood group III) mobile contact number on the above mentioned numbers.
