Facing shortage of plasma for treating coronavirus patients: Dr Tahir Shamsi
KARACHI: Appealing from the patients who have recovered from coronavirus for donation of plasma, Head of the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) Dr Tahir Shamsi on Wednesday said that they were facing challenge of availability of plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“One plasma can save lives of two people. 80 percent patients are getting recovered through plasma therapy,” Dr Tahir Shamsi said while addressing a press conference in Karachi. He was flanked by Prof. Dr. Javed Akram Vice Chancellor University Health Sciences on this occasion.
Javed Akram said that 65 percent female health professionals were facing pressure from their families to leave the job. He said 99 percent people who were put on ventilator while having coronavirus could not survive. He said ventilator damaged lungs. He said four people had started dying on an average every hour in Pakistan.
The professor said that coronavirus waged a war in lungs which creates trouble in taking breath. He said every 30 out of 100 coronavirus patients did not know even if they had any disease as they had no symptom.
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NDMA opens helpline for plasma donation
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has opened a helpline for plasma donation.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NDMA Spokesperson said people who have recovered from Coronavirus can contact the helpline at 0304-111-01-61 for plasma donation.
He said an officer of NDMA has been appointed as focal person for registration of data. He said the helpline will remain open round the clock.
He said the donor’s name and other personal information will be kept confidential.
