The police forces of various states in India, who at many times shed their blood for the country, are once again standing at the forefront to help the nation and its people ward off the deadly second wave of Covid 19. This time the battle is being fought in the hospitals where people are being treated in huge numbers.
During such unprecedented times when the country’s health system is trying to control the situation and state governments are putting in efforts to provide all the required facilities, the police forces have also extended their hand by donating their blood to Covid patients who are in immediate need of plasma.
Plasma donation has turned out to be very useful for patients suffering from the virus. The therapy involves taking antibodies from a person who has recovered from the virus and transmitting it into the body of the coronavirus-infected patient. This helps in boosting the immune system and helps the person recover from the Covid 19.
As efforts are being made from all ends in the country, we cover the initiatives taken by police forces in Vadodara, Noida and Odisha.
130 POLICE OFFICER DONATE PLASMA IN VADODARA
With the arrival of the second wave of Covid 19 in India, the Vadodara city and the district recorded its highest one-day surge on Wednesday, when 545 new cases were detected. Till now the city has witnessed more than 6,000 active cases and 393 deaths.
Looking at the immediate rise in the positivity rate and the demand for plasma, Vadodara Police Commissioner Dr. Shamsher Singh launched an initiative of conducting a plasma donation drive by the recovered police officers in the city.
Over 250 police officers have come in contact with the virus in past one year. Out of all them, around 130 have agreed to donate their blood to help the needy. Mr. Singh has also taken a step to motivate more and more police officers to donate blood so that maximum people can benefit.
Police officers of all ranks, from DCPs to constables, have taken part in this drive and extended their helping hand to come to the aid of the infected people. Some officers were initially skeptical about donating their blood, but Mr. Singh took care of it by setting up a meeting between the officers and the medicos.
The meeting was to make them aware of the uses of donating plasma and how they can save lives through it.
FACILITATING PLASMA FOR COVID 19 PATIENTS IN NCR
Similarly, Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Alok Singh has also taken an innovative step of facilitating plasma for the needy. The city recorded its highest one-day surge on 23 April, after 1064 new cases were detected. The death toll has risen to 137 and the current active cases too have jumped up to 4,793.
During such times when the demand for plasma is increasing day by day, the police commissioner launched a helpline number – 8851066433 – to contact people who are in need of plasma. Not only this but using the technology correctly, a link to a Google document form was also released where the donors, as well as receivers, can submit their details and get the required help immediately.
Many police personnel have volunteered to donate plasma through this initiative and senior officials have appealed to people to join the efforts.
ODISHA POLICE’S PLASMA DONATION DRIVE
Just like last year, when the first wave of Covid 19 hit Odisha, the state police force has once again come forward to save the lives of critical patients by donating their blood. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Odisha Mr Yashwant Jethwa has taken the initiative this time in which he wrote to all the head police officials in the state, appealing them to plasma.
For this he has assigned assistant inspector general (headquarters) Mr Pratyush Diwakar as the nodal officer to coordinate with plasma donors in the police force. He wrote, “The state health department has requested members of Odisha Police to once again lead the plasma donation drive like last year. Those who have recovered in the first and second phase of the infection, are encouraged to donate plasma and help the government to fight Covid-19.”
The police personnel in Odisha have already contributed almost 50 percent of the plasma which has been donated in the whole state. More than 1000 officers who had recovered, contributed their blood to help the needy.
Similar participation by the police is also being seen in other many cities and states.
