RBTC launches campaign to collect plasma to treat COVID-19 patients

Kathmandu - The Regional Blood Transfusion Centre (RBTC), Bharatpur has launched a campaign to collect plasma required to treat COVID-19 infected people. So far, 38 units of plasma have been collected, said the Centre Chief Ramesh Kanta Poudel. Nepali Congress COVID-19 monitoring committee Kawasoti collected and sent 33 units of plasma to the Centre last Monday alone, it has been said.

Earlier, five people donated plasma at the Centre. On October 13, 14 and 15, Chitwan Chamber of Commerce (CCC) is collecting plasma from three places in the district on the occasion of its 70th establishment day, said the CCC President Dirgha Man Shrestha, adding that collection of more than 100 units of plasma is expected from these places.

Plasma is in demand from the places like Kathmandu, Butwal and Bhaktapur, said Poudel. "All have showed interest in collecting plasma. This campaign could save lives of many," he said. Plasma therapy is a treatment method. As part of the therapy, plasma found in the blood of a person who has recovered earlier from the same disease is transfused into the blood of the new patient.