PANJIM: With the State government set to introduce plasma therapy to treat COVID patients from the coming week, the Health Department will launch a campaign encouraging recovered patients to donate their plasma, from Sunday onwards.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday said that the campaign for creating awareness on donation of plasma by the patients who have already recovered from COVID-19 infection will start in the State from Sunday.

“We will be encouraging people to come forward and donate their plasma. They will save lives of other people,” he said.

Rane said that Apheresis machine which is required for the treatment would be installed at Goa Medical College and Hospital by Monday.

“We will do whatever, that is required, to save lives of the people,” he said.

The Health Minister also stated that all measures outlined in the latest Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) clinical management protocol for COVID-19 including Remdesivir, Fabiflue and Toxilizumba have been ordered.

As on Friday, the State had total 1,347 recovered COVID patients.

Meanwhile, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar has also appealed COVID recovered patients to come forward and donate their plasma to save lives of other patients, especially those who are serious.

“You can be a saviour to several COVID patients. Your blood plasma can be used to treat critically serious patients,” he said.

“Those recovered patients, who have completed 14 days home quarantine and who have no active symptoms can come forward and donate their plasma,” Bandekar added.

He explained that plasma is a liquid which is removed from the blood and around 200Ml will be removed.

“Only those above age of 17 years, with good haemoglobin and weight above 50 kg can donate the plasma,” doctor said.