Srinagar, July 23: With the installation of sophisticated machinery for Plasmapheresis for COVID-19 patients, Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Dr A.G Ahangar Thursday made an earnest appeal to the recovered COVID-19 patients to come forward to donate their plasma and serve humanity at large.
“Together we can defeat this virus,” Director SKIMS and Ex-Officio Secretary to Government, Dr AG Ahangar said in a statement.
“This virus is novel and it has been behaving in a novel way. You never know today you can have 100 COVID-19 positive patients at hospital, tomorrow, the number can go up and vice-versa, so we have to remain ready and well equipped,” he said.
Dr Ahangar said that the recovered COVID-19 are warriors—who are helping the administration in fighting and defeating the novel virus.
“All the COVID-19 positive patients can be the saviors of humanity amid this crisis,” Dr Ahangar said.
“My message to the people is to remain stick to the WHO guidelines, health advisories and work together to fight the pandemic. People should know that COVID–19 is real. Stay home and stay safe,” he said, adding “Together we can fight and defeat deadly coronavirus.”
The Director said that SKIMS authorities are issuing an appeal to the Public at large to come forward for Plasma donation from those who were detected COVID-19 positive and recovered from it.
He said that SKIMS is continuing its endeavours to provide quality healthcare across Jammu and Kashmir and in this regard the Institute is in a process of installing more sophisticated machinery for conducting plasmapheresis for COVID-19 patients.
“We have already installed one sophisticated machine by which we will be now able to conduct plasmapheresis for COVID-19 patients with some precision and utmost professionalism ,” Dr Ahangar said. He said that SKIMS has started plasmapheresis—using Spectra Optia Cell Separator apheresis machine which is the state-of-art machine used for plasmapheresis in COVID patients.
“The machine was procured on a war-footing basis to combat the COVID-19 crisis and the machine is fitted with a highly sophisticated connector device,” he said.
Plasmapheresis has been used on a trial basis for COVID- 19 patients and has shown promising results.
It may be recalled here that Plasma Therapy was started for COVID patients about a month back at SKIMS. The Director said that the use of this machine is ideal for the extraction of plasma in donors who have recovered from this disease. He said that Plasmapheresis helps to extract more plasma per operation and returns the blood cells of the donor to him.
“This way more plasma can be extracted and one -timer a donor can donate for 2 patients. Since only Plasma is used a donor can donate plasma more frequently,” Dr Ahangar said.
He said that SKIMS has been issuing appeals to the public at large, professionals and all others willing to contribute in this direction to come forward and donate Plasma for saving the human lives.
The officials said that the management team for this CPT would screen the donors and the recipient based on the scientific principles of the quantum of the antibodies detected in the donors.
Pertinent to mention that given the ever increasing surge in the detection of positive patients as well as the ones reporting for treatment, this CPT has tremendous scope in the line of management for saving precious lives.
The helpline numbers in this regard and the Coordinator for this activity will be Dr Farooq A Jan, Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, 9419415196, Dr GH Yattoo, Nodal Officer, COVID-19, SKIMS, 9419415342 and Dr Romana Makhdoomi, Head, Blood Transfusion & Immuno-Hematology Department, 9419081223.
