The convalescent plasma therapy seems to be a new hope for Covid-19 patients in the State’s worst-hit Ganjam district. As many as three patients who were administered plasma have been cured of the deadly disease.
District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange on Tuesday tweeted: “Glad to share that these are the first three patients who got plasma & got cured in Tata Hospital. We appreciate the efforts of our doctors. We request all cured patients to come forward for plasma donation.”
So far, over 200 people in the district have already registered themselves for plasma donation.
The plasma therapy for serious Covid-19 patients began in the district on July 22. The plasma bank at the SCB Medical College Hospital had collected plasmas from cured patients which were administered to serious patients. The trial showed promising results; and then, it was extended to other Covid Hospitals.
For setting up of a plasma unit in Ganjam, a sum of Rs 25 crore was sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Among the plasma donors, Patrapur Tehsildar Srinivas Behera, who got cured from Covid-19, donated plasma.
Notably, over 50 per cent of the total corona deaths in the State have been reported from Ganjam.
Of the State’s 154deaths, 85 have taken place in Ganjam by now. So far, 9,501 positive cases have been reported from this district of which there are 3,414 active cases. What is encouraging for the district administration is that nearly 60 per cent (5,996) of the infected people have recovered.