Campaign in Our forth-coming days— “DONATING PLASMA——— SAVING LIFE”.. in the context of COVID19

Every day, Every moment we are looking for the news regarding invention of Vaccine/medicine to save us from deadly COVID19. Researcher are working on the invention at Lab. During these painful period utilization of drugs like Fabiflue,CIPREMI & COVIFOR somehow brought relieve to some extent. We also came to know that it can be used as per the advice of the health practitioners & in certain condition.

In this regard, we also came to know nowadays the use of “Plasma Therapy” as a game changer in helping people recovered from COVID 19 illness. 

Though ICMR(Indian Council Of Medical Research) had advised to use this on trial base to know  safety & efficacy of Convalescent plasma therapy in the treatment  still its requirement should be reflected through campaign–“DONATING PLASMA—- SAVING LIFE” in order to prepare us to donate as per the situation.

Still utility of plasma therapy is getting preference day by day.  As we all know that Plasma contains protein/antibody which help to fight against the disease by improving our immune system But real problem lies elsewhere i.e- within us… within the people who recovered from this COVID 19.

        These problems are–

A) They are n’t willing to go through the process in the hospital where they spent some days during their treatment.

B)  people want to save & want it for their relatives only.

C) Some people have firm belief that it can’t be regained once it is taken out from their bodies.

D) They think they should n’t further donate it as it would make them weaker & their physical strength/immune power will be compromised.

Solving these problem actually reflects some steps(not the least) ..

A) Emphasizing on campaigning regarding Donation of Plasma.

B) Patient can be motivated  during process of recovery.

C) They should be provided with knowledge like- within 2-3 weeks of their recovery, they might be eligible for the donation., donating 500 ml Plasma can save life of two persons.

D) Intimating them that — Donation of Plasma will n’t effect level of antibody in future.

E) Instead of being selfish, it is their time to utilize it for the people who need it , because when he will be cured then can think of saving others life in the same way.

G) Display board should be there in front of every clinical establishments regarding the campaign– “DONATING PLASMA– SAVING LIFE”

H) Easing of process of collection,documentation through one window service delivery system regarding people willing to donate their plasma.

I) It is better if some kind of appreciation letter/registration number be given to the donor ,helping them in accessing health care facility in forthcoming days.

(J) counseling service should be started at hospitals regarding this purpose.

While working in an ICMR-(NCD) project, we found it difficult to make people understand(Especially) from the rural area about donating blood for a purpose. People used to start with so many (why) questions. But it will be a real challenge to make people understand the importance of donating plasma in present context. But people should also be made conscious about eligibility/conditions for the donation..

Needless to mention, Mass awareness & education is required like–

• Everyone (Pregnant women, women having more then one child,people with sugar, Aids/Hiv ) can’t donate.
• Blood group should be matched between donor & the patient.
• The patient who recovered has to go through certain process like documents showing -evidence of COVID 19,total resolution of symptoms on the eve of donation.                                                                                                                                               After approval, emphasize should be on total campaigning & involving all sectors should be there. PPP model(especially-Govt-Ngo ) here would work to a greater extent because –
• Ngo professionals (especially trained social workers) can reach to people & by rapport building, motivating/convincing they can help in achieving target.
• Field changes fast then what actually being described in paper/documents. Ngo professionals can go for fact finding & gather data for the monitoring & evaluation of the campaign.
• Theses trained people are accepted by the community people for their flexibility & dynamism while rendering their service at the professional level.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
  

  Using of convalescent plasma for passive antibody therapy had been using since 1930 for prevention/treatment  of bacterial & viral infections.  According to the opinion of an Non profit organization-“EUropian blood Alliance, initiatives from some countries like Italy,spain,UK & some other Europian countries had already taken for the use of this passive antibody therapy & in India, ICMR is in the trial phase(ii) & once it gets approval,then it can be used without any legal obligation. Campaigning at all level is need to access the service in near future.                   Lets the good attitude of helping people by donating plasma be internalized within us. Lets help us to come out from the nature of self centered because we are human being & to live in societal frame, extending helping hands to each other is badly required.                                                                                                                                                       Lets have positive self image & achieve introspection through self consciousness. It is high time to make us understand from shifting narrow “I” concept to a broader “WE” concept because if I take step, it will add another one & would make “WE”. Here we can save ourselves & the society by involving ourselves in the total campaigning, becoming “Change agent” by active participation.   Its necessary for the sake of  existence of the society & in-fact for the sake of our struggle for existence in life. Death rate of the COVID19 taught us many aspects. We have learnt the necessity of practicing positive affirmation/optimism, & to  channelize  negative factors into positive one.                           

   We would make the campaigning(DONATING PLASMA— SAVING LIFE) successful otherwise we are alone in the society & would remain alone —one day.  Am I right?