Recovered Tablighi Jamaat Members To Donate Plasma To Critically Ill Patients: Report

Jamaat members may become a ray of hope to many critically ill patients. According to a reports around 200 members of the Tablighi Jamaat who have recovered from Covid-19 have pledged to donate their plasma to help those who are severely ill because of the virus.

New Delhi: Members of the Tablighi Jamaat show victory sign as they leave in a bus from LNJP hospital for the quarantine centre during the nationwide lockdown, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, in New Delhi, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: After vilification of Tablighi Jamaat’s lax attitude toward social distancing during the lockdown and news about the increase of coronavirus cases in many places across the country due to Jamaat returnees, it seems that that the controversial religious group's members may become a ray of hope to many critically ill patients. According to a report by the leading daily Hindustan Time around 200 members of the Tablighi Jamaat who have recovered from Covid-19 have pledged to donate their plasma to help those who are severely ill because of the virus. Another report by The Hindu has said that Jamaat members from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also willing to donate plasma and help the state government in their fight against coronavirus. The report also says that the members were encouraged by, Maulana Saad (emir of the organisation) to cooperate with authorities and donate plasma. After the nod from India’s apex medical body Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR), Plasma Therapy is being tested across the country as a treatment option for critically ill patients. In convalescent plasma therapy, the liquid part of blood is collected from patients who are cured of infection as it contains antibodies that might help them fight the infection. When our body is attacked by a pathogen it produces antibodies or immunoglobulin (Ig) to fight and these can help an infected patient. For donating plasma for COVID 19, the donor needs to have been a patient before and should be completely symptom-free before donation. States such as Delhi and Karnataka have begun trials of the therapy. Delhi which is one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country has just recently completed round plasma therapy tests with four Covid-19 patients at the city-based Lok Nayak Hospital. The Chief Minister of the state Arvind Kejriwal had also urged people to keep religious differences aside and donate plasma. In a report by IANS Kejriwal said if anyone ever has any bad feelings for any other religion, they should just think that one day their plasma can save your lives. "We can take a lesson from this coronavirus crisis that if we work together, no one can defeat us. But if we continue to fight, there is no scope left."