With 3871 Recovered COVID-19 Cases, Ganjam Seeks Its Own Plasma Bank At Berhampur’s MKCG

Berhampur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s announcement to start plasma therapy at Tata COVID Hospital at Sitalapalli from Tuesday has spread cheer among denizens of Ganjam district, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

The district has so far seen 59 COVID-19 deaths.

They, however, are questioning the rationale behind providing the service in the district without a Plasma Bank.

The Odisha government has set up only one Plasma Bank at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, while the service is available at SUM Hospital and KIMS Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Ashwini Hospital in Cuttack.

“One very essential thing is setting up of a Plasma Bank, which will allow for storage of plasma. Otherwise, we again have to depend on SCB,” Dr Sunil Kota, a consultant on endocrinology, diabetes and thyroid opined.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University Prof Dr Jayant Mohapatra said people of Ganjam have been demanding for a plasma therapy facility for the past few weeks. “This will help to save many lives. Now, Ganjam has around 4000 recovered cases and if mobilized, they can save around 8,000 lives as a unit of plasma can save two patients,” he said while thanking the CM for the Rs 25 crore package for the district to fight COVID-19.

Sources in MKCG’s blood bank said that a separate instrument and trained staff will be required to collect plasma from a COVID-19 patient after 28 days of his recovery.

It will take 10 to 12 days for installation and demonstration by the engineers. The training of the staff will take four to five days, the sources added.

However, if official sources are to be believed, the district administration has already started the process to set up Plasma Bank and collection of plasma from the recovered patients at MKCG.

“Four NDRF jawans donated plasma at SCB Plasma Bank at Cuttack today. Another 4 jawans have tested their antibody for plasma donation. The 4 units of plasma collected today will be dispatched to MKCG,” said SCB Emergency Officer Dr Bhubanananda Maharana.

Ganjam district has so far reported 5766 COVID-19 cases and among them, 3,871 patients have been cured of the infection.