AP: No plasma therapy yet in three districts

VISAKHAPATNAM: Three out of 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh have not performed or did not need to undertake plasma therapy as treatment for Covid-19. The districts— Vizianagaram, Chittoor and West Godavari—have

Covid-19

positivity rates and mortality rates below the state average.


Speaking to TOI, Vizianagaram district collector M Hari Jawaharlal said, “We have not taken up plasma therapy in our district so far. However, we have managed to control the Covid-19 outbreak at par with other parts of the country.”

Chittoor district

medical and health officer Dr M Penchalaiah said, “Instead of focusing on plasma therapy, we took up other alternative measures such as increasing Covid care centres and raising awareness about masks and social distancing.”

A health official from

East Godavari district

said, “We have mostly depended on steroids, early detection and timely treatment for Covid-19 patients.”

Principal of Andhra Medical College (AMC) Dr PV Sudhakar said that plasma therapy is a good treatment option for cases detected in early stages but of no use at the eleventh hour.

According to state vice-chairman of Indian Red Cross Society P Jaganmohana Rao, plasma therapy and donation have brought success in districts where such treatment was tendered. He added that the government has offered Rs 5,000 to plasma donors.