By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 12: Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has started collecting the blood samples of the COVID-19 recovered patients for convalescent plasma therapy for the treatment of those battling with the virus infection.
The NRCS started collecting blood from various seven blood transfusion service centres in the country, including the National Blood Transfusion Service, Kathmandu.
The Red Cross stated that it started the programme in the request of the Nepal Health Research Centre (NHRC).
Khim Bahadur Ranabhat, 39, of Tanahun started the programme by donating his blood on Wednesday, the NRCS said.
After donating the blood, Khim Bahadur Ranabhat said that he was motivated to donate blood after he recovered from COVID-19 because he knew that he could help many infected patients recover from the virus through plasma therapy.
The NRCS and Nepal Medical Association also reached an agreement to establish a plasma bank. The agreement signed by Dr. Netra Timsina, chairperson of NRCS and Dr. Lochan Karki, chairperson of Medical Association, stated that the NRCS would manage technical manpower, plasma bag, plasma bank and other materials while the medical association will provide the record of COVID-19 recovered patients and coordinate in blood collection. The NRCS has also decided to honour all plasma donors.
Dr. Timsina said that the NRCS was not the only actor in blood transfusion and all stakeholders should take common responsibility of it.
“Meanwhile, the NRCS has already started blood collection for plasma therapy in Sunsari, Chitwan, Bhaktapur, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Kailali districts in coordination of the local hospitals,” Divya Raj Poudel, communication director of the NRCS, said.
He further said that they would soon start the blood collection programme also in Dhanusha and Pokhara.
The effectiveness of plasma therapy for the COVID-19 patient is yet to be ascertained. However, the Doctors Association of Nepal said that no physical and mental side effect was seen on the donors.