More than 100 patients received plasma so far at SKIMS: Dir SKIMS

Appreciates donors for coming forward and saving lives
Srinagar: In a short span of one and a half months more than 100 patients of COVID-19 so far received Convalescent Plasma at Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. Director SKIMS Dr. A.G Ahangar thanked people for immense support and their overwhelming response for donating plasma to save COVID sick patients.
While lauding the efforts of Plasma Therapy Team he said that SKIMS achieved a milestone in the treatment of patients with Covid-19 where hundred patients have received plasma therapy so far. Plasma therapy is being worked out as a treatment modality for moderate to severely sick patients with Covid-19. In UT of J&K Apex Committee for Covid-19 had recommended plasma therapy for Covid-19 patients and issued guidelines for it. It has yielded satisfying results throughout the world and has been tried across country, he added.
Director SKIMS Prof. A. G. Ahangar, & Ex-Officio Secretary to Government had repeatedly made a fervent appeal to those who recovered from Covid-19 for plasma donation. People responded with enthusiasm as voluntary donation for convalescent plasma is happening at a great pace. People from all walks of life are volunteering for donation even amid lockdown. The donors also include 30 doctors/paramedics who donated plasma so far. Director SKIMS thanked donors and has directed to issue “Certificate of Appreciation” to those warriors for coming to the help of humanity at this crucial hour.
H.O.D Department of Blood Transfusion & Immunohematology, Dr. Romana Makhdoomi while giving details said that SKIMS started Plasma Therapy in the month of June with installation of sophisticated and of State-of-Art Apheresis-machine to carry out the procedure with precision and more than 100 COVID positive patients received plasma and benefitted and no transfusion related complications have been reported from all those who have received the therapy. Though the detailed studies for evaluating the effectiveness of convalescent plasma on patients with COVID-19 are underway, preliminary reporting suggests that many patients have benefitted from the treatment. The procedure is available 24X7 in Blood Transfusion & Immunohematology, SKIMS and the department has a dedicated helpline for helping out the donors and recipients alike.