Pune: NGO creates online directory of plasma donors

PUNE: The NGO Action for Pune Development (APD) has created an online directory of plasma donors to ensure that families of critically ill Covid-19 patients do not have to struggle to find eligible donors.
The NGO launched the directory on July 28 and, so far, it has 51 registered donors.
APD founder Aakash Shah said he launched the directory after receiving a WhatsApp message seeking plasma. “On July 27, I received a message stating that a critically ill Covid-19 patient required B- plasma. I have recovered from Covid-19 and my blood group is B- so I went ahead to donate. While speaking with representatives at the blood bank, I found out that there is an acute shortage of plasma donors. My team and I launched a simple Google form to register donors,” Shah explained.
Another APD member Sahil Phadnis stated that the organization has been able to connect 14 families to plasma donors since the launch of the directory. “Whenever we get a requirement, we connect the donor to the patient’s family. We have been able to help families of patients with rare blood groups like AB+ and AB- as well. The directory has helped patients admitted to hospitals in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, even Vijaywada,” Phadnis said.
Apurv Deshpande, a member of the NGO, added that apart from creating the platform, they are also trying to encourage recovered patients to donate plasma. “There are a lot of misconceptions around plasma donation that we are trying to bust. Aakash has been quite vocal about the two plasma donations he has done so far. We also congratulate and write about other donors we know of in order to spread awareness. We can see that people are coming forward in larger numbers to register as donors,” Deshpande said.
Shah added that many people are unaware of the criteria for plasma donation. “There is a 28-day criteria, which means that a person must have been detected Covid-19 positive 28 days before s/he can donate plasma. Several people have registered with us but they have not completed the 28-day period. We have a system that notifies us when a registered donor completes the 28-day period. The blood bank also conducts tests to check if a person is an eligible donor,” Shah added.
Special envelopes released
The Postmaster General of Pune region Col SFH Rizvi will release a special envelope to promote the theme of ‘Plasma Donor: Super Warrior’ on Independence Day this year in appreciation of plasma donors. Such special envelopes are released by the Department of Posts to commemorate important events.