Plasma bank opened at CMCH

Coimbatore: Health minister Dr C Vijayabaskar and municipal administration minister S P Velumani jointly inaugurated the plasma bank at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on Sunday.
The plasma bank was set up at a cost of Rs25 lakh. On the opening day, two army men, a CMCH house surgeon and a photojournalist, who had recovered from Covid-19 recently, donated plasma.
Vijayabaskar said plasma would be collected from donors by way of apheresis method.“Plasma would neutralize the virus in patients and reduce the need for artificial oxygen support.”
Recently recovered Covid-19 patients are eligible to donate plasma, if they are in the age group of 18-65 years and don’t have high blood pressure, heart ailments, diabetes, kidney problem and cancer. Those who have undergone organ transplantation are not eligible to donate plasma.
The health minister said a person could donate plasma for a maximum of three times. Once collected, the plasma would be stored in minus 40 degree Celsius. “It could be stored for a year and administered on Covid-19 patients whenever needed. Plasma therapy will reduce fatalities.”
CMCH medical team has identified the patients for plasma therapy and the treatment would commence soon. Hospital authorities said donors would be screened thoroughly before collecting plasma. Their blood samples would also be checked.
A CMCH source said 200ml plasma would be administered on Covid-19 patients on two consecutive days. ‘At least 10 more donors have registered their names with the plasma bank.”
Later addressing the media, Vijayabaskar said the Centre’s move of scrapping e-passes for inter-state and intra-state travelling would pose a challenge to state health department in containing the virus spread.
He also called on people to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and ensure hand hygiene.
He said 1,902 people with Covid-19 symptoms were diagnosed at 6,312 fever camps in the district, which has 5,861 beds to treat Covid-19 patients. “Siddha treatment is offered at 25 Covid care centres in the state. All districts will have one such centre. People will get Covid-19 results through SMS on their phones within two weeks.”
The plasma bank opening ceremony was attended by health secretary J Radhakrishnan, district collector K Rajamani, city corporation commissioner Sravan Kumar Jatavath, deputy director of public health G Ramesh Kumar, city health officer S Raja and CMCH dean Dr P Kalidas, ESI Hospital dean Dr Nirmala and other officials.