On a national scale, demand (for convalescent plasma) has swelled 300 percent since the second wave of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The daily demand stood at 1,000 pouches in June 2021 and climbed to more than 4,006 pouches at the end of JulyMakassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) branch in South Sulawesi has appealed to COVID-19 survivors in the province to donate convalescent plasma to cater to the high demand. “On a national scale, the demand (for convalescent plasma) has swelled 300 percent since the second wave of COVID-19 in Indonesia,” Head of PMI-South Sulawesi Office Adnan Purichta Ichsan said in Makassar, Wednesday.
The daily demand stood at 1,000 pouches in June 2021 and climbed to more than 4,006 pouches at the end of July, he said.
Convalescent plasma therapy is one of the methods used to treat COVID-19 patients, particularly those with severe symptoms.
A recent rise in cases in South Sulawesi has led to high demand for convalescent plasma, he said.
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Convalescent plasma therapy is one of the effective ways to help COVID-19 patients recover. The therapy is believed to increase the chance of recovery for such patients, Ichsan said.
The demand for convalescent plasma comes from hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Several survivors in the province have formed a community to encourage other COVID-19 survivors to donate their blood as part of the effort to control the pandemic.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), we have received great support from the community, particularly COVID-19 survivors. Some of them have formed a community to encourage other survivors to donate their blood,” he said.
Any COVID-19 survivors wishing to donate blood can contact the PMI office to check whether they are fit to donate blood.
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Translator: Muh. Hasanuddin, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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