Rotary opens plasma bank in Hyderabad
RC Hyderabad Deccan, RID 3150, launched a plasma bank at the Rotary Challa Blood Bank in the city. The new facility, inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, will cater to the growing demand for Covid convalescent plasma being prescribed by doctors as a line of treatment for serious cases.
A blood donation van procured through a global grant in 2018 in partnership with TRF and RC Napierville, Chicago, RID 6450, will be pressed into service. “It is equipped with everything necessary for blood donation procedures like collection equipment, donor beds and short-term storage solutions. Recently it was equipped with disinfectant jetting machines that sanitise the van after every collection,” says Anand Kankaria, the PR director of the club. This special van will enable Covid recovered patients to donate plasma with ease and convenience at the time and location of their choice.
Donors will be pre-screened for antibodies and other blood parameters from the comfort of their homes. The plasma donors can either come to the blood bank or donate blood from home, says Kankaria. “This is to encourage voluntary blood donation and provide blood products, free of charge to poor and needy patients in government hospitals.” The spouses of club members are helping patients find the right donors. “We not only find the right match but also call the potential donors and motivate them to save the lives of Covid patients,” he says. But the actual success of the plasma bank, he points out, will be “when donors come forward. We have created a hassle-free and safe donation experience and appeal to patients who have recovered from Covid to come forward to donate plasma so that they can become a Covid saviour rather than just a survivor.” Patients and donors can register at www.plasmaforyou.org.
The club also conducted a tree plantation drive. Club member Devendra Surana planted 10,000 trees at his factory, while other members planted saplings at their residence and office premises.
