Who can donate, where and how to donate, and other key questions answered by experts; read to know how you can help
A sample collection to determine antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID patients in Dharavi, to enable plasma donation. File pic
Kin of patients are not just pleading for beds at hospitals or oxygen for loved ones afflicted by COVID. We see them desperately looking for plasma donors, too. Life-saving plasma donation, very little known till now, has come into the spotlight in this pandemic.
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People who wish to donate can contact PRANA Foundation. File pic/Suresh Karkera
Mumbai’s Dr Maria Nigam founded the PRANA Foundation in July 2020, after witnessing the stress and desperation of family members, who may themselves be on a hospital bed, looking for plasma for a loved one. PRANA is a volunteer-run social initiative working to encourage donation of convalescent plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19.
Three questions with Dr Nigam:
What are the eligibility criteria for plasma donors?
There are strict eligibility criteria to be adhered to in convalescent plasma donors. I can list some here: for instance, it must be 28+ days post recovery from COVID. Donors must be in the age group of 18 to 60 years. The weight must be above 55 kgs, these are just some criteria amidst other extensive ones to be a donor.
How often can one donate plasma and at what stage do patients need plasma?
A person can donate every fortnight. Plasma is best prescribed early and in moderate COVID. Contact PRANA for information, if you wish to donate.
How can one spread awareness about plasma donation, for instance, we have awareness about blood donation, doctors speak about raising awareness about organ pledging and donation and that awareness is growing but practically zilch about plasma donation.
There is negligible to no awareness about plasma donation, though it is in focus now. We need public health messaging to up the scale of awareness. COVID doctors must have panel discussions inviting questions that can raise awareness, that would surely be both, a way to raise awareness and bust myths. Social media can be a useful, powerful tool in this initiative. Celebrities and influencers who are COVID survivors can be used to spread the message about plasma donation. Each plasma donation could save two lives.
Want to know more?
Contact PRANA to know more- +919920182634 or register as a plasma donor on bit.ly/PranaPlasmaDonation
Both donor and recipient links are also available on the website pranapanindia.com
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