Mysore/Mysuru: Malavika Gubbivani, Mysuru District President of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has in a press release urged the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to set up a Plasma Bank in city and popularise it among the people. 

Expressing concern over the COVID-19 death toll crossing 500 mark in the district, she said even now the Government communication to public is only about using masks, sanitisers, physical distancing  and nothing more. 

Plasma therapy (treatment) is a simple procedure, similar to blood donation and one plasma donor can save two lives, she said adding that it was a success in Delhi as hundreds of donors saved thousands of lives.

In the month of June when the COVID-19 pandemic was going out of control, Delhi’s AAP Government took immediate action by increasing testing, tracing, hospital beds, built a field hospital with 10,100 beds, allowed home isolation for asymptomatic positive patients and home quarantine for primary and secondary contacts. But above all, they immediately established two Plasma Banks, where recently cured patients could donate their plasma full of antibodies to treat serious patients, Malavika observed. Hundreds of volunteers came forward heeding to the call by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and many serious patients in ICU were treated successfully. 

Since Plasma Therapy is now accepted worldwide as a reliable treatment for serious patients with co-morbidities, Malavika suggested that in addition to the monetary incentive, the donors should be given priority for one plasma treatment when they or their dear ones require plasma treatment. 

At present the Plasma Bank for Covid treatment is at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences. When the District Administration itself is advising people to restrict their movements and stay at home, who would want to go all the way to Mandya for Plasma donation? she asked and urged the Deputy Commissioner to set up a Plasma Bank in Mysuru itself.